Carlos Alcaraz has responded to Casper Ruud’s analysis of an incredible shot the Spaniard made during their doubles victory at the Laver Cup on Sunday.
The pair were leading 7-6, 3-0 in the second set against American pair Reilly Opelka and Alex Michelsen, when Alcaraz produced one of the best shots in Laver Cup history.
At 40-30, Alcaraz hit a shot at Michelsen, who was at the net, before approaching the net himself.
Michelsen would volley the shot back, and Alcaraz, quite unbelievably, managed to hit a drop-volley so delicate that the American could not reach the ball – despite being within two-feet.
This shot sent a shockwave of disbelief through the stadium, with Casper Ruud dropping his racket and Team Europe captain Yannick Noah bowing down to the Spaniard.
Alcaraz says ‘I always choose the most difficult one’
During an on-court interview with Mark Petchey, Casper Ruud discussed the magical shot, heaping praise on the six-time Grand Slam champion.
“I just want to say that, when you’re as good as him, it almost seems like every shot he has, he’s thinking like ‘I have 17 shots in the book I can play,'” Ruud said.
“So I just say ‘please play the one that works the best.’
“And then typically he goes for the most difficult one. But he makes it, so why not?”
“I mean come on, it’s a joke.”
A clearly amused Alcaraz responded: Sometimes a lot of ideas come to my mind and in just one second I had to choose one.
“As Casper said, I always choose the most difficult one. I don’t know why but you know, it’s like this.
“As I said, I just enjoy making these choices.
Alcaraz went on to discuss his remarkable volley, saying: “I think in that position, it was the only shot, the best shot I could choose in that moment.”
Petchey then quipped: “There was nothing easier than that.”
Alcaraz laughed, before replying: “That the team told me, you dropshot a guy who stay in the service lines. I think it came to my mind and I just did it.”
Alcaraz’s performance propelled the doubles pair to victory against the Americans, winning 7-6, 6-1. However, their performance could not prevent Team Europe’s loss, with Taylor Fritz sealing the historic victory for Team World with victory against Alexander Zverev.
What next for Carlos Alcaraz?
Carlos Alcaraz has little time to rest following his Laver Cup campaign.
The Spaniard will travel west from San Francisco to Tokyo, to compete in the Japan Open.
In his first match, Alcaraz faces Argentinian star Sebastian Baez. The pair have not faced off for three years, with their last match coming in 2022.
Alcaraz has won both previous matches against Baez. In 2021, Alcaraz defeated Baez 4-2, 4-1, 4-2 at the Next Gen Finals, and in 2022 the Spaniard emerged victorious in the US Open first round.
