Carlos Alcaraz Branded “Overrated” in Andre Agassi’s Cheeky Dig Before Taylor Fritz Laver Cup Clash
As the 2025 Laver Cup approaches in San Francisco, Team World captain Andre Agassi has taken a cheeky swing at Carlos Alcaraz, playfully branding the 22-year-old Spaniard “overrated” in a lighthearted conversation with Andy Roddick. The quip, delivered during a podcast appearance on *Served with Andy Roddick* on September 18, 2025, was part of a humorous exchange where Agassi and Roddick joked about Alcaraz’s athleticism ahead of their teams’ clash. With Alcaraz leading Team Europe against Agassi’s Team World—headlined by Taylor Fritz—the banter adds spice to what promises to be a fiercely contested event from September 19-21 at Chase Center. Agassi’s dig, while tongue-in-cheek, underscores the mutual respect between the eight-time Grand Slam champion and the young phenom he hopes to outmaneuver.
The Banter: “Overrated” with a Wink
Agassi, making his Laver Cup captaincy debut after John McEnroe’s five-year stint, couldn’t resist poking fun at Alcaraz during the podcast. “Carlos Alcaraz is so overrated,” Agassi said with a laugh, before clarifying, “But you gotta work on your athleticism a little bit.” Roddick joined in, adding, “He kind of has the whole package, but yeah, the speed—offensively and defensively—needs work.” The exchange was pure ribbing, with Agassi quickly praising Alcaraz’s all-around game: “He can defend like Novak [Djokovic], has soft hands like Roger [Federer], and generates RPMs and pace like Rafa [Nadal]. And you’ve got the passion that keeps him fired up the whole time.”
Agassi’s comments reflect his admiration for Alcaraz, whom he compared to a fusion of the Big Three’s best attributes. “If you take the best of what each of them do, it’s like it’s turned into one person,” Agassi noted. The “overrated” label was clearly satirical, aimed at psyching up his Team World squad ahead of facing the world No. 1, who enters with momentum from his US Open triumph over Sinner and a Cincinnati title.
The Stakes: Alcaraz vs. Fritz in San Francisco
The Laver Cup, pitting Team Europe against Team World in a best-of-36 singles and doubles matches (points double on Day 3), is set for an epic showdown. Alcaraz, representing Team Europe under captain Yannick Noah, will partner with Jakub Mensik for the opening doubles on September 19. His singles match could come against Fritz, Team World’s leader and the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, in a rematch of their 2024 Laver Cup decider where Alcaraz edged Fritz 6-3, 7-5.
Fritz, ranked No. 5 and a California native, is hungry for revenge after Alcaraz’s Berlin heroics. “Carlos is the real deal, but Agassi’s got us fired up,” Fritz said in a pre-event interview. Team World, bolstered by late addition Alex de Minaur replacing Tiafoe, includes Francisco Cerundolo, Alex Michelsen, Joao Fonseca, and Reilly Opelka, with Patrick Rafter as vice-captain. Team Europe features Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Flavio Cobolli, and Tomas Machac as alternate.
Agassi, who last faced Alcaraz in a 2003 Indian Wells exhibition, sees the Spaniard as a complete package but hopes his “overrated” jab rattles him. “He’s near perfect, but everyone has a flaw—let’s see if San Francisco exposes it,” Agassi teased. Alcaraz, unfazed, responded on Instagram: “Overrated? We’ll see at Chase Center 😏.”
Fan Reactions: Laughter and Hype
Fans lapped up Agassi’s dig, with X posts exploding: “Agassi calling Alcaraz ‘overrated’? Classic troll—Team World coming for blood!” (@TheTennisLetter). Another quipped, “Andre’s cheeky—hoping Carlos ‘works on his athleticism’ by running circles around Fritz 😂” (@TennisFanatic22). The banter has heightened anticipation for the event, which raises funds for the Rafa Nadal Academy and Roger Federer Foundation, with tickets starting at $20 for practice day (September 18).
A Legacy Clash in the Making
Agassi’s playful “overrated” label for Alcaraz adds delicious tension to the Laver Cup, where the Spaniard—fresh off six Slams and a year-end No. 1 bid—faces Fritz and a motivated Team World. With Agassi’s wisdom guiding the underdogs, and Noah’s flair for Europe, San Francisco promises fireworks. As Alcaraz eyes a career Grand Slam in 2026, Agassi’s cheeky dig reminds us: even legends like to stir the pot before battle.
