'Great Weapon' - Not Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz names this tennis star as the best player in the world
(Courtesy :Â X/@carlosalcaraz)
Carlos Alcaraz returned from injury at the US Open 2026.
Team Europe head into this week’s Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena with better chances of triumphing than last year, and Alexander Zverev is the headline name after his US Open triumph.
Captained by Yannick Noah, Europe will lean heavily on the two-time Grand Slam champion alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli.
Alcaraz all-praise for Zverev
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Speaking ahead of the event, Alcaraz praised his teammate. “He is probably the best player in the world right now,” Alcaraz said. “Having him by my side and on our team, it’s going to be a great weapon that we’re going to use this weekend.”
The pair also shared a lighter moment recently, with Alcaraz asking Zverev what was going through his mind on match point of the US Open final, when the German appeared momentarily unaware he’d actually won. Zverev responded: “Completely nothing in my head. This is what helps. When you’re stupid, it helps.”
Related: What’s next for Carlos Alcaraz after US Open 2026 exit?
The season so far
Zverev has won two Grand Slams this year, including Roland Garros and the US Open, and also reached the Wimbledon final. Despite this, the German star has not defeated either Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner throughout the season.
Sinner, in particular, has dismantled him repeatedly, winning all five of their 2026 meetings, including the finals in Madrid and Wimbledon.
Even Zverev has acknowledged that, with Sinner sidelined by injury and Alcaraz still finding his rhythm, he is arguably the best player “right now”. However, he still considers Sinner the benchmark when all three are fully fit.
It’s already been Zverev’s best season, but he now has an opportunity to take it a step further. The German currently sits at World No. 2 with 9,690 points, just 1,810 behind Sinner.
Related: Laver Cup 2026 Squads Confirmed – Full line-ups, dates & venue
Crucially, Zverev has only 1,080 points to defend for the remainder of the season, compared with 3,550 for Sinner, giving him a significantly lighter points burden heading into the final stretch.
The Italian is returning from injury, and it remains to be seen how well he performs and whether he pushes himself to play all the competitions. Hence, the German has a genuine shot at finishing 2026 as World No. 1 for the first time in his career.
For Alcaraz, the Laver Cup marks a return after his US Open quarter-final exit, and the Spaniard will look to find his best rhythm after spending months away from action due to his wrist injury.
Where are Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev currently ranked in singles?
Alcaraz and Zverev are currently ranked third and first, respectively, in the ATP Singles Rankings.
Who won the US Open 2026 men’s singles?
Alexander Zverev won the US Open 2026 men’s singles.
How many Grand Slams did both players win this year?
While Alcaraz won the Australian Open this year, Zverev bettered it with the French Open and US Open.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram