Laver Cup Rewind: Carlos Alcaraz selects struggling Casper Ruud as partner in crucial Berlin match

We're counting down the days to the Laver Cup in San Francisco—starting Friday, September 19—by looking back at memorable moments from competitions past. Our lookback continues with a memory from Berlin, where a struggling Casper Ruud rose to the occasion alongside Carlos Alcaraz.

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Casper Ruud wasn’t high on confidence at the 2024 Laver Cup after two days of competition were completed.

The three-time major finalist had been a reliable guy for Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg to call on over his first three appearances, but struggled to get anything going in Berlin. Ruud dropped the opening contest to Francisco Cerundolo and then looked lost alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas the following day—the latter 6-1, 6-2 defeat leaving him feeling “a bit humiliated.”

Carlos Alcaraz didn’t care what he had seen out of his teammate those two days.

With his team trailing 4-8, the Spaniard nevertheless tipped Ruud as the person he wanted to share the court with to kick off the final day of play.

“I felt like I’d never played doubles before, I felt embarrassed, but I went to bed knowing Carlos had said he’d like to play doubles with me,” shared Ruud.

A good night’s rest was followed by a chance for Ruud to carry out his own form of revenge. For he would find Ben Shelton across the night less than 24 hours after being humbled by the American and his fellow left-handed partner Alejandro Tabilo.

For some reason he picked me. I don't know why, but I was happy to play. Casper Ruud on Carlos Alcaraz

One strategic shakeup, moving Ruud from the ad to the deuce court, would prove pivotal in reversing the outcome. The support of someone like Alcaraz equally played its part in energizing Ruud.

The result: a game-changing 6-2, 7-6(6) victory for Team Europe. Ruud and Alcaraz outlasted Shelton and Frances Tiafoe In a dramatic match-point ender, before turning to each other with simultaneous roars as they went in for an embrace.

“For some reason he picked me. I don't know why, but I was happy to play,” Ruud later told press with a smile.

“We think we connected well. We moved good kind of with each other. When we crossed, we covered the other guy's side and so on. We were returning well and playing good behind our serve, and at the net we hit some good volleys, and Carlos hit a few unbelievable ones. Yeah, it was fun, good chemistry.”

📲 🖥️ Watch the 2025 Laver Cup beginning Friday, September 19, on the Tennis Channel app

Laver Cup Rewind

👉 Friday, September 12: Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Sock & Frances Tiafoe (2022)
👉 Sunday, September 14: Carlos Alcaraz & Casper Ruud vs. Ben Shelton & Frances Tiafoe (2024)
👉 Monday, September 15: Daniil Medvedev vs. Ben Shelton (2024)
👉 Tuesday, September 16: Alexander Zverev vs. Frances Tiafoe (2024)
👉 Wednesday, September 17: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Taylor Fritz (2024)