Carlos Alcaraz’s Laver Cup rivals tried to get in his head during his debut weekend at the Laver Cup.

The world No. 3 is competing in the team event for the first time. After losing his doubles match on Friday night, he regrouped to defeat Ben Shelton in the singles on Sunday.

Shelton was forced to resort to other tactics during the contest as he and Frances Tiafoe hatched a plan to throw the Spaniard off with a comment about Roger Federer.

The world No. 17 was no match for Alcaraz as they came out for the second match of the day on Saturday, when each victory was worth two points. With Team Europe trailing in the overall score, Alcaraz won 6-4 6-4 to put them level.

Shelton put in a strong showing but still couldn’t come close to the four-time Grand Slam champion. Instead, he and Tiafoe tried to distract Alcaraz. During one of the changeovers, Tiafoe conceded that there wasn’t much his teammate could do.

“He’d be hitting winners like that, like Federer wasn’t even doing that,” he told Shelton. After comparing Alcaraz to the 20-time Grand Slam champion, Tiafoe had an idea.

He added: “100 per cent, when you cross the net, 100 per cent make him laugh and be like, ‘You’re playing like Federer.’ But say it slow so he can understand it. I promise you he’ll miss the first serve.”

And Shelton approved of the plan. “I’ll say Roger will be proud.”

Their antics made Jim Courier laugh. The retired former No. 1 was commentating on the match and he remarked: “They’re scheming what he’s going to tell Alcaraz on this walk by. Let’s listen.”

When Shelton crossed paths with Alcaraz as they got up to return to the baseline, he clearly made a comment. The Spaniard turned his head back and laughed as co-commentator Jason Goodall added: “He said something, didn’t he.”