Carlos Alcaraz said it would be ‘impossible’ to match a Roger Federer accolade in 2024, but he’s already done it one year later.
Alcaraz is set for his second Laver Cup appearance, which will mean he’s the first World No. 1 to appear at the event since Rafael Nadal in 2017.
The new World No. 1 played the 2024 event, where Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in the deciding match to bring the trophy home to the European team.
At the event, Alcaraz said it would be ‘impossible’ to reach a Roger Federer milestone, but he’s already achieved it before the 2025 Laver Cup.
Carlos Alcaraz has matched Roger Federer’s 2005 season this year
Team World dubbed Alcaraz ‘Fed ’05’ at the 2024 Laver Cup, in reference to Federer’s season that saw him win the US Open and Wimbledon, and reach the semi-finals of Roland Garros and the Australian Open.
Alcaraz was asked about the nickname at the Laver Cup, while Federer was watching on from the stands at the event he conjured up in 2017.
The Spaniard dismissed the nickname from his opponents. “I’m too far from that level,” he said after defeating Fritz to confirm Europe’s Laver Cup win.
“I’m too far,” he continued. “Hopefully one day, but I mean, it’s going to be impossible. So they have to change my name because ‘Fed 05’ is going to be forever him.”
Just a year later and Alcaraz has also won two Grand Slam events at Roland Garros and the US Open, as well as reaching a final and a quarter-final, with seven ATP titles just four short of the 11 Federer achieved in that historic 2005 season.
The ‘impossible’ task set by Federer 20 years ago has already been completed by the Spaniard as he continues his ascent to tennis domination.
What new ground can Carlos Alcaraz still break in 2025?
Alcaraz is flying after becoming World No. 1 yet again and winning his second US Open title against Jannik Sinner.
The Spaniard still has plenty to play for in the rest of 2025, however, with two Masters trophies the star is yet to win.
Alcaraz is yet to win the Shanghai Masters and the Paris Masters in his career, with quarter-final appearances in both being his best performance.
The star has not yet won the ATP Tour Finals either, having only played the event twice with a semi-final appearance in 2023 being his best effort.
