Carlos Alcaraz has made no secret of his love for Roger Federer, and his devotion to his event highlights that.
Since making his debut at the Laver Cup in 2023, the Spaniard has not only been ever-present every year following, but has led Team Europe as its figurehead.
However, in 2024, it was the Swiss superstar who felt compelled to apologise.
In an interview given after the event had concluded, with Team Europe taking home the title in Berlin, Roger Federer actually spoke about Carlos Alcaraz after the two had been spotted sitting beside one another in the stands as Jannik Sinner played Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final.
When Roger Federer apologised to Carlos Alcaraz back in 2024
He began by admitting: “I barely know Carlos Alcaraz, so I’m really excited to see him play for the very first time.”
Their relationship seems to have blossomed in the years that have followed.
What would have happened if Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played at the same time as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
Federer then revealed the very first time he ever practised with the Spaniard, and explained why he had to apologise for rejecting the opportunity to do so again the very next day.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion revealed: “I only practised once with him at Wimbledon when he was still a junior, and then the next day, my coach said, ‘Do you want to warm up with him again?’ and I said, ‘No, it’s okay, I’d rather warm up with his coach, who was my generation, Juan Carlos Ferrero.’ I can apologise to Carlos this week!”
Fortunately for Alcaraz, he got his second practice session that same week in Shanghai.
Roger Federer’s most recent exhibition match
Despite retiring from tennis in 2022, Federer has remained very much involved with the sport and in the public eye.
After all, with the Laver Cup, it’s hard for him not to be in the limelight for at least one weekend of the year.
However, he has remained active on court in a handful of other exhibitions as well, including at this year’s US Open alongside Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.
This very week has seen Federer dust off the racket again, this time in Shanghai.
He joined Marat Safin on court, alongside sister and former WTA world number one Dinara Safina, and Chinese superstar Li Na.
Speaking afterwards about his old Russian rival, Federer noted: “It was really fun to be on the same side of the net as my brother from another mother. I really enjoyed it, and I hope everyone did too.”
