“I f**ked it up, I feel bad” – Carlos Alcaraz reveals one mistake he regrets on Laver Cup Day 1 despite Team Europe taking 3-1 lead in San Francisco
The Laver Cup roared into San Francisco’s Chase Center on Friday with electric energy, as Team Europe seized a commanding 3-1 lead over Team World on Day 1. Carlos Alcaraz, the 21-year-old defending champion and fresh US Open winner, played a pivotal role with a gritty singles victory, but his mixed doubles stumble alongside Alexander Zverev left a bitter taste. In a candid post-match interview, Alcaraz didn’t mince words about his self-perceived blunder: “I f**ked it up, I feel bad.” Despite the overall success, the Spaniard’s raw admission highlights the perfectionist’s fire that fuels his dominance—and the high stakes of team play.
A Dominant Day for Europe: The 3-1 Scoreline Breakdown
The 2025 Laver Cup—now in its eighth edition and making its West Coast debut—kicked off with a packed Friday schedule of singles and doubles action. Team Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg in his final year at the helm, started strong under the bright lights of the 18,000-seat arena, where fans waved flags and chanted for their favorites.
– Singles Opener: Casper Ruud (EUR) def. Ben Shelton (USA) 7-6(4), 6-4** – The Norwegian, ranked No. 5, edged a tense tiebreak before breaking Shelton twice in the second set, securing the first point amid roaring support for the American wildcard. Ruud’s baseline consistency overwhelmed Shelton’s booming serve, averaging 78% first-serve points won.
– **Singles Clash: Carlos Alcaraz (EUR) def. Jack Draper (GBR) 6-3, 7-5** – Alcaraz, playing in front of a star-studded crowd including Bay Area icons like Steph Curry, delivered vintage flair. Trailing 4-5 in the second, he unleashed a backhand winner to break Draper, then held to seal it. The World No. 1 fired 32 winners to just 12 unforced errors, converting 3/4 break points and saving all five he faced. “It was tough—Jack’s serving huge—but we got the point,” Alcaraz said, pumping his fist to the European faithful.
– Doubles Heartbreaker: Taylor Fritz & Ben Shelton (USA) def. Carlos Alcaraz & Alexander Zverev (EUR) 6-4, 7-6(5)** – The night’s capper turned into a rollercoaster. Alcaraz and Zverev, favorites on paper, dropped the first set after Fritz’s lob winner at 4-4. They roared back in the second, forcing a tiebreak where Alcaraz’s volley wizardry kept them alive—until a critical moment. Serving at 5-4 in the breaker, Alcaraz netted a routine forehand approach on match point for the Americans, gifting Fritz an easy putaway. The loss denied Europe a clean sweep, but the 3-1 lead keeps them on track for a potential sixth straight title.
Team World’s sole point came courtesy of the doubles duo, who fed off the home crowd’s energy. Fritz, a San Francisco native, called it “the match of my life,” while Shelton added, “Beating Carlitos and Sascha? Dream come true.”
Alcaraz’s Regret: The Net Cord That Haunts Him
Post-match, as confetti fell and highlights looped on the Jumbotron, Alcaraz’s demeanor shifted from elation to introspection. Speaking to Laver Cup host Jim Courier in the on-court interview, the Spaniard zeroed in on that decisive error in the doubles tiebreak—a forehand that clipped the net and dropped dead, handing the point (and match) to Fritz. “I f**ked it up, I feel bad,” Alcaraz admitted, his voice laced with frustration. “It was my mistake… I had the chance to close it, and I blew it. Sascha was amazing, but yeah, that one hurts.”
The blunder wasn’t isolated; Alcaraz tallied four unforced errors in the second set alone, a rarity for the four-time Grand Slam winner whose error count rarely exceeds 20 in best-of-five sets. Yet, he was quick to praise his partner: “Zverev carried us—those serves were unreal. We had our moments.” Zverev, ever the diplomat, deflected: “Team point’s what matters. Carlitos, you’re too hard on yourself—we’ll get ’em tomorrow.”
Alcaraz’s candor resonated, drawing parallels to his 2024 Laver Cup heroics where he clinched the deciding point in singles and doubles. At 21, his self-critique underscores the maturity that’s propelled him to World No. 1 status, even as he juggles a packed schedule post-US Open glory.
Day 2 Stakes: Europe Eyes Commanding Lead
With Saturday’s lineup featuring heavy hitters—Novak Djokovic vs. Frances Tiafoe in singles, plus doubles like Andrey Rublev/Gael Monfils vs. Tommy Paul/Alex de Minaur—Team Europe can extend to 7-1 with wins. Alcaraz draws a doubles rematch potential, partnering Casper Ruud against the Shelton/Fritz pair, offering redemption. “Tomorrow’s a new day,” he vowed. “I’ll learn from it—no more f**k-ups.”
The Laver Cup’s unique format—points doubling on Days 2-3—means Europe’s cushion is vital, but Team World, led by captain John McEnroe, smells blood. “That doubles win? Momentum,” McEnroe barked. As San Francisco’s fog rolls in, all eyes are on Alcaraz: Can he shake the regret and deliver the magic that defines him?
