World No. 1 and freshly crowned US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz arrives at the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco hungry for more glory after his heroics in Berlin 2024. The six-time major winner aims to dominate both singles and doubles, delivering his signature brilliance on court. Yet Alcaraz knows the power of moments off the court too. Just after electrifying the Chase Center with a scintillating doubles victory, After posting a stunning win over Taylor Fritz, Alcaraz sent a four-word message to Eugenie Bouchard over a gesture that left fans wondering: what sparked this surprising, playful connection?

The world’s No. 1 men’s tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz, took a break from the courts on Tuesday to soak in some local history, touring the infamous Alcatraz Island. The National Park Service shared the moment on social media, writing, “Our own Ranger Siena had the honor of showing around professional tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz, on Alcatraz.” Beyond its storied past as a federal penitentiary, Alcatraz also boasts a tennis legacy, with military officers playing on the island’s courts as early as the 1880s, according to the National Parks Service.

Alcaraz wasn’t alone on the tour; friends and family joined him, exploring behind-the-scenes areas while uncovering deep-cut tennis history along the way. “Alcaraz’s friends and family explored behind-the-scenes areas of the island, learning some deep-cut tennis history along the way,” the NPS added, highlighting the blend of sport and history.

Recent political chatter, including President Donald Trump’s discussion of reopening Alcatraz as a maximum-security prison, hasn’t stopped visitors from exploring the island, which remains open as a national park. Alcaraz wandered the prison corridors, pausing to take selfies with fans while a guide detailed the facility’s historical significance.

The official The Tennis Letter X account captured the moment, posting images of Alcaraz and his team heading toward the island with the caption, “Carlos Alcaraz visits Alcatraz. He understood the assignment 😂.” The post quickly gained traction online.

Genie Bouchard reshared the post, adding, “I waited so long for this,” and after his doubles win at the Laver Cup, Alcaraz playfully re-shared her comment with, “The time has come 👀.” Between history lessons, fan interactions, and cheeky social media exchanges, the world No. 1 demonstrated he’s as commanding off the court as he is on it.

On the court as well, as Team World fought to erase the deficit, the spotlight fell on World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and his doubles partner Jakub Mensik to deliver a flawless performance. The duo stepped onto the court for the first men’s doubles match of this year’s Laver Cup, facing off against Team World’s Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen. From the outset, the Spanish-Czech pairing displayed precision and control, never once facing a break point throughout the encounter.

With the victory, Europe stretched its lead to 3-1, cementing Day One dominance, while team captain Yannick Noah revealed his special coaching approach following the match. And beyond the scoreboard, Alcaraz’s masterful performance has not gone unnoticed. Legends of the sport have been sending special messages praising the Spaniard, recognizing both his skill and poise as he continues to carry Team Europe with authority and flair.

John McEnroe sends praise to Carlos Alcaraz

Just before Carlos Alcaraz took the court for his doubles match, the official Tennis Channel Instagram page dropped two captivating clips of John McEnroe reflecting on the Spaniard’s meteoric rise, captioned, “Smiling his way to success 😀👑.” McEnroe opened with a playful jab, asking, “How much time do we got?” before launching into a sweeping reflection spanning decades of tennis history.

The American legend recounted the golden eras he had lived through firsthand, saying, “I mean, it’s really, I watched tennis for 50 years, you know, longer in a way, and obviously we went through a period, I mean, I idolize Rod, I said that, I got to play against Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Conors, Ivan Lendl, my three greatest rivals.” His words carried the gravitas of experience, a reminder that greatness isn’t merely observed, it’s battled for, point by point, on the court.

McEnroe then turned to the previous generation of icons, noting, “Along came these nobody’s, what’s their name? Becker, Edberg, Agassi, Sampras, you’re like, Oh my god, this is amazing.” His excitement captured the thrill of witnessing tennis evolve, the sport constantly reinventing itself through new stars.

The conversation shifted to the modern era of the Big 3, with McEnroe marveling, “And then to top it off, you get Roger, Rafa, and Novak, you’re like, I am looking at the three greatest players that ever lived and suddenly along comes this other guy from Spain.” The awe in his voice highlighted the shock and exhilaration of seeing Alcaraz rise amid legends.

With Alcaraz now having delivered in doubles, helping Team Europe extend its lead, the stage is set for the next day of fierce competition. Team World faces a daunting task, but the unpredictable energy of young stars could shift the momentum. As fans reflect on McEnroe’s words, the question lingers: can Team World rally and mount a comeback tomorrow, or will Alcaraz and Team Europe continue to dominate with the confidence of champions? 

The anticipation is electric, and the answer lies in the battles yet to unfold.