Alcaraz 'honoured' to be back in London as he prepares for Laver Cup
· Yahoo Sports
Carlos Alcaraz is delighted to be back in London for this weekend's Laver Cup and will be involved in day one of the Ryder Cup-style team tournament.
A wrist injury ruled Alcaraz out of the grass-court season with the six-time grand slam champion forced to miss Wimbledon, but he returned from a four-month absence to make the quarter-finals of the US Open.
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The next assignment for Alcaraz is his latest appearance for Team Europe at The O2 and he will help kick off the action with a doubles match alongside Jakub Mensik during Friday's night session.
"For me it is an honour to be here back in London," two-time Wimbledon champion Alcaraz said.
"I miss it this year to be honest and to be able to come back here in the Laver Cup, with these guys, I would say it is even better.
"I will try to do my best and try to help the team as much as I can. This is why this event is unique. I am usually fighting the guys all year, then (now) helping them as a coach and it's great."
A budding bromance between Alexander Zverev and Alcaraz could be on the horizon after the former helped give his Spanish rival a top knot hair style before they had a hit on the black hard courts at O2 Arena on Thursday.
World number three Alcaraz was quizzed during a Team Europe press conference why he had decided to play instead of rest after being a vocal critic of the current tennis calendar, and he said: "Well, because I think we are not used to playing team events.
"For me especially I love team events and team tournaments. You spend time with them and have fun.
"You could see in previous years how much fun I had on court, off the court, and yes I could be training or resting, but this kind of week helps me to bring my joy back on the court."
Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery will rub shoulders with Alcaraz and Zverev this week after being selected as an alternate for Team Europe to continue a remarkable year for the British number one.
Fery was ranked 140 in June before his impressive run to the last four in SW19, and said: "It's incredible. It's been an insane few months and really happy to be sharing the locker room with all these guys this week.
"I'll be behind them all the way and obviously it being in London again, it's awesome for me."
The Laver Cup, co-created by Roger Federer, is back at O2 Arena four years on from an emotional occasion where 20-time major champion Federer played his final tennis match alongside Rafael Nadal.
Casper Ruud was part of Team Europe for that tournament, and he said: "When I came to the arena on Tuesday and had my first practice, I remember when we were watching Roger have his ceremony and his speech.
"Everyone was trying to hold back tears, but they couldn't and I saw my heroes on court crying and in tears because one of the greats was retiring.
"It's hard to describe in words how emotional it was but it also adds motivation to avenge the loss in 2022. Maybe we can try to win for Roger this time in the O2."
Team World captain Andre Agassi offered his sentiments on the ongoing debate between what can be done regarding the packed tennis calendar.
"When I look at the wear and tear and the situation like Alcaraz, who is out for four-and-a-half months because of his wrist, the only surgery I had in my life was on my wrist and you only have one of them," Agassi pointed out.
"So, you have to be really diligent to make sure your schedule fits your objectives in this game.
"I do absolutely air on the side that in a lot of times in life, less is more and in a lot of cases tennis could benefit from that.
"This wouldn't be the place I would choose to cut some edges but I'd like to see these awesome athletes always being at their best. I think everyone wins with that."