WATCH: Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli challenge FC Union Berlin coaches to friendly games of football and tennis ahead of Laver Cup 2024
As preparations for the 2024 Laver Cup intensify, Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Coboli were recently spotted enjoying a friendly game of soccer and tennis. The two ATP stars also received personalized jerseys from German soccer club Union Berlin. The 2024 Laver Cup is set to kick off on Friday, September 20, and will conclude on Sunday, September 22.
Alcaraz will be competing in the Laver Cup for the first time in his career. Flavio Coboli is also making his Laver Cup debut after a successful season that saw him break into the top 100 and reach a career-high ranking of No. 31 in August.
On Tuesday, the official Laver Cup account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video featuring Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli interacting with the coaches of Union Berlin. The video showed them exchanging pleasantries, playing football, competing in a game of keepy-uppy, and even playing tennis with the club’s coaches on a small-sized court.
Alcaraz and Cobolli will compete for Team Europe alongside Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Jan-Lennard Struff. Since the inaugural edition of the Laver Cup in 2017, Team Europe has won the tournament four times.
For Team World, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerúndolo, and Thanasi Kokkinakis will aim to secure the title for the third consecutive time.
Carlos Alcaraz on participating in the Laver Cup - “We are going to laugh a lot”
In a recent interview published on the Laver Cup's official website, Carlos Alcaraz, who is participating in the tournament for the first time in his career, expressed his excitement about having fun with his teammates. The Spaniard also mentioned that winning the Laver Cup would be a significant achievement for him.
"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.
"We are going to laugh a lot, I’m sure about it. Having a lot of time with them and speaking with them about something else, not only tennis, is going to be different … and I like different things,” he added.
Carlos Alcaraz is having an exceptional season, having won both the French Open and Wimbledon championships. He also secured a silver medal in men's singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.