Agassi reveals his concern for Alcaraz: "I've been praying for four months"

This afternoon kicks off the ninth edition of the Laver Cup, where Andre Agassi will appear for the second consecutive year as captain of the Team World. The American doesn't appear much in the media, but when he does, it's truly enjoyable to listen to him.

On this occasion, the Las Vegas native sat down with Andy Roddick on his podcast, Served, where laughter and good humor are guaranteed. The American analyzed his role within the competition, his bond with the rest of the team, and even talked about the role that Carlos Alcaraz will play in the equation. Because yes, the player from Murcia is that one who can tip the balance at any moment.

The eight-time Grand Slam champion explained that his job as captain is not just to show up during tournament week. “You don't dive into these guys' lives for a week and expect to make a significant impact; what you want is to get to know them throughout the year,” he explained. For Agassi, speaking with the coaches is crucial to discover how each player processes pressure: “Are they information-driven? Energy-driven? Do they need calm and confidence? There is a lot of real-time processing,” he added.

The American also highlighted the challenges of building a team on such a demanding schedule. “Tennis represents a full calendar; it’s a hamster wheel for these guys, and the wear and tear on their bodies is enormous,” he noted, recalling the physical issues that affected Team World last year and have also influenced the 2026 roster.

Alcaraz, Agassi's great concern in the Laver Cup

When it came to discussing his rivals, Agassi did not hide his respect for Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. Regarding the German, a Grand Slam champion this year, he pointed out that “winning is addictive” and recalled his difficulties in causing damage on such a slow court. But it was Alcaraz who provoked an especially striking declaration.

“Tennis missed him. I missed him. He is incredible for our sport,” Agassi stated about the player from Murcia. And he revealed how closely he is following his recovery: “For the last four months, I have been praying for his wrist to be 100% at some point in October,” assured the Las Vegas legend.

On the court, Agassi believes that the slow conditions will force players to work particularly hard on every exchange and movement. “It’s like death,” he joked when describing the effort needed to get balls from the corners. But the captain of Team World also sees opportunities. “It all depends on the matchups,” he explained. Although he acknowledges that they will have to overcome players who have won three of the four Grand Slams, he believes that the format of the Laver Cup allows an apparently inferior team to find ways to compete.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Agassi descubre su preocupación con Alcaraz: "Llevo cuatro meses rezando"