Alexander Zverev shares US Open mind-set with Carlos Alcaraz.

Richard PagliaroSeptember 22, 20261 minute read

By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX

Carlos Alcaraz is not only a seven-time Grand Slam champion, he’s a massive tennis fan.

The two-time US Open champion watched Alexander Zverev defeat Ben Shelton to capture his maiden US Open championship earlier this month.

On championship point, Zverev, who confessed he forgot the score, did not initially realize he’d won the US Open title.

Alcaraz, who out-dueled Zverev in an Australian Open classic in January, asked the former gold-medal champion his mind-set during practice at Laver Cup in London this week.

After greeting Zverev with a hug, Alcaraz asked: “Tell me, what were you thinking [in the US Open final]?”

“Completely nothing in my head, this is what helps,” Zverev replied. “When you’re stupid, it helps.”

“I thought it was 4-1 and then I was not nervous, you know?” Zverev said. “If it’s 5-2, I was so nervous for sure.”

“Yeah, exactly,” Alcaraz replied.

Alcaraz and Zverev are teammates on Team Europe for this weekend’s Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in Londson.