Carlos Alcaraz dismisses Roger Federer comparisons after Laver Cup win

Carlos Alcaraz, at the age of 21, dismissed any comparisons to the legendary 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, shortly after securing victory over Taylor Fritz, which led Team Europe to triumph in the Laver Cup on Sunday.

In his debut at the tournament, the Spanish player defeated American Fritz with a score of 6-2, 7-5, clinching the title in Berlin.

Team Europe, having faced defeats in the previous two editions, required a remarkable comeback from local player Alexander Zverev, who overcame Frances Tiafoe with a scoreline of 6-7(5), 7-5, 10-5, to set the stage for the final match between Alcaraz and Fritz.

Following his victory, Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, was likened to a peak Federer, but he remarked that such a comparison was "impossible."

"I am still far from that level," he stated. "I aspire to reach it one day, but it truly feels impossible."

Having already won the French Open and Wimbledon this season, Alcaraz noted that this was his first participation in the event.

"It feels fantastic. We can all take pride in our efforts. I am genuinely happy. Everyone performed admirably throughout the tournament. It has been exceptional," he expressed.

"We were on the verge of losing, but Sasha (Zverev) delivered some outstanding tennis and provided me with the opportunity to win the Laver Cup."

The world number three commenced Sunday’s proceedings with a doubles match alongside Casper Ruud, winning 6-2, 7-6 (8/6), which set the foundation for his team to secure the Laver Cup for the fifth time.

Alcaraz admitted that he found it more challenging to observe the matches from the sidelines with his Team Europe teammates than to compete himself, stating, "the nerves were overwhelming."

"It is quite difficult to watch the matches from outside. I attempted to distance myself a bit, watching on television in the locker room, trying to offer support from there.

"The nerves were certainly present."