Carlos Alcaraz falls to Taylor Fritz in Laver Cup: “The pressure is not because I am the number 1 in the world | ATP Journey

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Alcaraz

Espanyol failed in straight shift in Laver Cup on Saturday

September 21, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz has returned to No. 1 in the PIF ATP rankings since 2023, but he insists he competes with better players.

The 22-year-old Spaniard’s 13-game winning streak, including his landmark U.S. Open victory, ended Saturday night at the hands of a shot Taylor Fritz at Laver Cup. Alcaraz made 19 uncompulsive mistakes in Fritz’s 10 and later reflected in the game.

“It’s not the game I expected, but I think I have to look at him some tennis that I think he played great,” Alkaraz said. “I just don’t have as solid as I wanted in the game, and I think those conditions are very slow. The ball is really big, so I have to stay steady. I didn’t play today.

“Taylor played a great game, it was really solid and did a great job when he could. I think everything was around him, so I had to congratulate him and he had a better game than me.”

Europe was behind their lead Alcalaz’s night game 3-5, but the Spaniard was unable to come up with a solution in his 6-3, 6-2 defeat. When asked if the weight that became the world’s number one plays in his mind, Alkaraz refuted the idea.

“Not really. Today I feel like I have to win the point because of the way this day went, two losses, I feel like I have to win the game,” Alkaraz said. “It’s a little bit of extra stress because of the way the day goes, but it’s not because I’m number one in the world.

“I think rankings are just a number. It shouldn’t give you the pressure to win everything and every game. I’m there, but you still have to do what you did before. But with those two losses, I feel a little extra pressure.”

This marked Fritz’s first Lexus ATP Head2head win in his fourth attempt, winning the game, with the team 7-3 in doubles against Casper Ruud and Holger Runger.

According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Alcaraz, who has a 61-7 record this season, will try to make corrections to win the second straight title in the team match when facing Francisco Cerundolo on Sunday night.

Cerundolo sent runes (Cerundolo) on Saturday as another player known for his offensive game, and Alcaraz will have to find a solution he can’t fight against big hits Fritz.

“I think he’s on the court more than I do,” Alkaraz said of Fritz. I think the first or second of the rally is really important, and I think he does better than me. I think that’s the key because, as I said, under these conditions, I think the first photo is really important.

When you are on defense, it is difficult to turn around when you run on the court. It’s really hard when you’re on defense because the ball and speed are slow, and it’s really hard to turn to the attack. As I said, Taylor was right. He is right. He is more aggressive than me. He’s better than me than my first shot, and I’m more runaway than me.