LAVER CUP

September 20, 2025

Yannick Noah

Carlos Alcaraz

Jakub Mensik

Chase Center

Team Europe

Press Conference

ALCARAZ-MENSIK/Fritz-Michelsen

7-6, 6-4

Team Europe - 3

Team World - 1

THE MODERATOR: Well done tonight, Jakub and Carlos. Yannick, I was going to say, it's been a great day for Team Europe. Do you want to tell us how you're feeling after day one?

CAPTAIN YANNICK NOAH: I think it was a great day of tennis. The quality of tennis was very good. We are up 3-1, but it could have gone many ways. You know, the matches were very close.

A lot of different style of play. Yes, I'm very happy, you know, to sit with these guys. It was very intense. I didn't expect it to be that intense, to tell you the truth, emotionally. I'm so into it.

It's so difficult to coach guys like this. It's so tough.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Jakub, how long did it take you two to gel as teammates out there?

JAKUB MENSIK: Yeah, I mean, obviously first day, it's tough. Yeah, for me especially, you know, for my debut. I mean, I'm happy with my performance in the singles and also in doubles.

With Carlos I think we were playing really well. We were completing each other on the returns, on the serves. Yeah, we showed really good performance, which even if it is for one point, every point counts. Every point is so, so important.

So I'm really happy that I bring to the team two points today. Yeah, of course, hopefully let's keep it up for tomorrow.

Q. Carlos, you've played so many great points yourself. It's a highlight reel each time you play. Today there was like a tweener that came to you from Taylor Fritz. How do you feel about that point? Do you think it had any kind of an impact in the match?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, I (expletive) it up. I mean, that easy volley that I missed after my partner made that run, but the most easy volley that I had, I just miss it. It was a volley at 40-All. They were serving.

I feel bad, to be honest, but you know, it is my first doubles, I would say, since Davis Cup last year. I felt a little bit lost sometimes. Sometimes I just had to be closer to the net. Like, for example, in that point I didn't, but yeah, I mean, today were great points in the doubles.

As I said in the interview on court, I think thanks to Jakub that he push from the baseline, great serves on the net. It just feel comfortable to do great shots. It was a good match, I guess.

Q. What were the emotions like, Carlos, in that first set tiebreak? You guys got up early. They had the set point. You saved it. It was a little bit of an emotional roller coaster for you?

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Not really. I mean, in doubles I think can happen everything. We were up I think 3-1, and then Taylor made that volley with the frame. It was lucky.

All of a sudden, you know, everything -- I think he started to play better after that point. It was really close, but I think we miss some shots that it was really close to the line.

It was a great tiebreak, I would say. Great points. We played great, but as I said, a few mistakes. It was unlucky, but great that we saved that set point down and then playing great points. I think the return was the key, and my partner was returning unreal.

Q. Carlos, not to be negative, but it's been sort of a curious run for great Spanish players in doubles. Rafa with Roger lost in his final match in Laver Cup, and then you and Rafa just had a good run, but then fell short in Paris. Then you and Emma didn't go too far in the mixed. Does it feel good now to just raise the flag and have that behind you? Just talk about --

CARLOS ALCARAZ: Absolutely feels great today after the win, yeah. I remember last year, for example, that I lost the first doubles in the first day, so obviously every time that I get the win, you know, in doubles, it feels great.

I don't used to play doubles, but every time that I play doubles, I love it. I think it's something that, yeah, I just have fun, just play great. I feel great on court. You know, having team, you know, the players that I'm playing with, and every time that I lose, I feel bad, because I always want to win.

This win, it is special. I feeling it's the first win that I have with the white hair that it's going to be special, as well (smiling). Yeah, it's great that the first match that I played with Jakub that it went that way.

Q. So we saw the Captain of Team Europe talking with the founder of the Laver Cup, chatting with Roger outside. What did you say? Secondly, it's always tough the first day on the job. At any job it's always the toughest. Do you feel relieved that you survived, and what surprised you?

CAPTAIN YANNICK NOAH: First of all, I went to see Roger and I said, Thank you. He said, Come on, Yannick, you already thanked me many times. I said, No, but I didn't realize how intense these games were, how fun it was for me. I'm, like, real excited.

As I told you a few days before, I don't know -- I didn't know these players personally. You know, there's such a connection after four days. It feels great. Of course, our DNA is the game. When we play well, we bond. That's what it's all about.

I mean, it is intense, but I couldn't dream of a better start. Not just because we are up 3-1. Just because of the energy that there is between us. I really love it. I thank Roger for that, for inviting me. I also did to Tony and Steve. Sometimes we forget to thank people.

Q. I'll wrap up, but earlier in the week you said, I really don't know Carlos that well, but the guy is young. He's the most important person in tennis. He's leading the sport in a certain way. What's your sense about what makes this guy --

CAPTAIN YANNICK NOAH: He's such a good person. He's just a simple good person who loves to play tennis. I don't see more to say, anything more to say.

You know, I've coached many guys. I mean, players and friends at different level. I've seen players in front of me, but he just sweat tennis. He loves tennis. He knows tennis very well, also. I was surprised that when we were playing, the things that he was saying to his teammates.

I mean, obviously he's No. 1, right, but there's a reason. Of course, the physical side, the tennis side, but he's just this -- he knows the game. That's great, and he's a great teammate. He's such a great teammate.

I mean, you could be No. 1 in the world and not worry about -- you know, I just won the US Open. That would be, like, more natural.

Q. You said this beautiful thing years ago about Guga. He plays with his heart. He plays with his soul. When he wins, it's not, Hey, I did it. It's for all his people, for all his fans. Do you think Carlos has that quality of just love of the bigger picture, doing it for his people? Can you see a similarity?

CAPTAIN YANNICK NOAH: I cannot talk for him. We all play for different -- we all love the game, but every morning we wake up for a purpose, and it's very personal. Yes, you play tennis, but sometimes you wake up, I don't feel like it, like we all do, but the champions wake up every morning with something else. That's why they're champions, and then it shows on the court.

Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell. It's personal for him, but he's a special person. He's a special player, of course. Everybody knows that. He's so great. He's also a different person, and that's great, because as you know, it's not much about tennis. Yes, there is tennis, but the whole show it's about also personalities. All these personalities are so different. They all have something to give.

Carlos being the one in front right now, he's a great ambassador. Everywhere we go, people ask him things, and he does everything he can. I really appreciate that.