Watch: Carlos Alcaraz turns 'coach' for Team Europe in Laver Cup 2024

Laver Cup 2024: Carlos Alcaraz was seen advising his teammate Casper Ruud during the latter's match against Francisco Cerundolo on Friday.

In Short

• Carlos Alcaraz is a part of Team Europe in Laver Cup
• Alcaraz passed on valuable advice to Casper Ruud
• Casper Ruud lost to Francisco Cerundolo in the first match

Carlos Alcaraz was seen in a new role for Team Europe in the Laver Cup 2024. On Friday, September 20, Casper Ruud started proceedings for his team in the singles match against Francisco Cerundolo of Team World. During the match, Alcaraz was seen passing on valuable advice to his teammate, who was having his drinks and refreshing himself in a break.

However, Ruud lost the match in straight sets to Cerundolo as Team Europe took a 1-0 lead. Cerundolo took an hour and 37 minutes to beat Ruud, also a two-time Grand Slam finalist, 6-4, 6-4. Ruud and Alcaraz are a part of the team that also has Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov.

Here’s the video of Carlos Alcaraz advising Ruud

‘A huge thing’

Earlier, Alcaraz spoke about the honour and privilege it is for him to play in the Laver Cup. "It’s a serious competition. I think we have to represent Europe, you know, in the best way possible. The prestige that this tournament has, and, being a Laver Cup champion is a huge thing," Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz has had an impressive year. He started the year after losing to Zverev in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open at the Rod Laver. But the youngster upped his game from there on. He won the French Open title after beating Zverev in the final at the Roland Garros.

Thereafter, he won the Wimbledon title after taking down Novak Djokovic, who won 24 Grand Slam trophies in his career. Alcaraz, however, had to stay content with the silver medal in the Paris Olympics 2024 after Djokovic beat him in straight sets at Philippe-Chatrier.

Alcaraz, however, fell short in the US Open after Botic van de Zandschulp beat him in the second round at Arthur Ashe Stadium.