Stefanos Tsitsipas returned to the 2024 Laver Cup after missing last year's edition, and he was very inspired by what he saw from Carlos Alcaraz, who debuted at the competition.
Alcaraz didn't just simply debut at the Laver Cup; he practically took over the competition, proving the most important player for Team Europe in their win over Team World.
He played two singles matches and two doubles matches, winning three of those, which accounted for 8 of the 13 points Team Europe won. It was a hugely successful debut for the Spaniard, who enjoyed the experience very much and will likely return plenty of times in the future.
One player who paid close attention to what Alcaraz was doing was Tsitsipas. The Greek player is older than the 21-year-old Spaniard but hasn't hit the peaks the four-time major winner has in his career.
Alcaraz won two Grand Slams this year; he's widely considered one of the best players in the world, which is what Tsitsipas said as well. As such, observing him was one of the things that the Greek player was keen on doing, and it was a fascinating experience for him because he generally doesn't have a chance to watch his rivals from that close.
"I'm observing Carlos. Seeing him from that angle is so different from watching him on TV or any other type of competition. I don't really get to get so close and intimate with another high-tier player like him. He's currently one of the best players in the world. He won two grand slam titles this year."
Due to his approach to tennis and his success, Alcaraz serves as an example for Tsitsipas. He's somebody the Greek player, despite being older, looks at and wants to be like, so getting a chance to see him up close and better understand how he does things was special for the former Roland Garros finalist.
"For me, he's an example. I really want to follow in his footsteps, see him play live, and observe what patterns, behaviours, and body language he shows on court. He's definitely someone that I try to copy and bring into my own game."
That's the beauty of the Laver Cup for Tsitsipas because it allows for scenarios that generally wouldn't happen on the ATP Tour under any circumstances. It's a team competition in which rivals come together to play together, which is an excellent chance for them to bond over their shared love of tennis.
"So for me, the Laver Cup is not only just the teammate who experience but also the bonding type of experience that we have. It's also like we're just constantly figuring it out together, and I think there's a lot of depth in that. You see things that you usually don't."
Tsitispas has been on record a few times, admitting how much he loves the Laver Cup format and what it represents. He actually called it one of his favorite events.
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