Carlos Alcaraz does not spend much time competing on the doubles court.
Alcaraz played alongside Emma Raducanu at the US Open, but their partnership only lasted one match after they lost in the first round of the revamped mixed doubles event.
That was the only time the Spaniard had played on the doubles court this year, before Alcaraz partnered Jakub Mensik at the Laver Cup.
Alcaraz and Mensik won their doubles match together, and now Andy Roddick has made a claim about the US Open champion.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver CupAndy Roddick claims that Carlos Alcaraz could be one of the best doubles players in the world
Alcaraz and Mensik beat Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen in their first-ever doubles match together on the first day of action at the Laver Cup in San Francisco.
There is often a big discussion over whether singles players would be better than doubles specialists at doubles, and now Roddick has made a big claim about Alcaraz.
When speaking on a live edition of his ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, the former world number one claimed that Alcaraz could become one of the best doubles players if he wanted to, while his co-host Jon Wertheim drew comparisons to Rafael Nadal.
“Remember we all said about Nadal. ‘Boy, he’d be really good at doubles if we saw more of him’,” said Wertheim. “And then in turn, he ended up winning a gold medal and he’s really good at doubles. I sort of feel the same way.
“This was the first, I believe this was the first doubles match he played all year, Carlos. But that was a lot of the Carlos show for a lot of that match and the touch we see in singles was very much apparent.”
Roddick responded, “Some singles players you can look at and you’re going, okay, that skill set whether it’s defending or getting sideline to sideline is not something that would translate to the doubles court.
“There is no doubt in my mind that if Carlos actually you know focused on doubles a little bit that he wouldn’t be one of the best doubles players in the world.”
What is Carlos Alcaraz’s doubles record?
There is not much data from Alcaraz’s previous doubles experience, having only played 12 matches on the ATP Tour, Davis Cup or Laver Cup.
Alcaraz played his first four doubles tournaments alongside his compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, but they have only ever won one match together.
The six-time Grand Slam champion has partnered four other men since then, including Alcaraz playing with Nadal at the Paris Olympics, which is actually the only time he has won more than one match with one partner.
Tournament Carlos Alcaraz’s Doubles Partner ResultBarcelona Open 2021Pablo Carreno BustaLost in the first round (0-1)Indian Wells 2021Pablo Carreno BustaLost in the first round (0-1)Rio Open 2022Pablo Carreno BustaLost in the quarterfinal (1-1)Indian Wells 2022Pablo Carreno BustaLost in the first round (0-1)Madrid Open 2022Marc LopezLost in the second round (1-1)Paris Olympics 2024Rafael NadalLost in the quarterfinal (2-1)Davis Cup Finals 2024Marcel GranollersWon one, lost one (1-1)Laver Cup 2025Jakub MensikWon match (1-0)
Winning in doubles alongside Mensik was the only match that he has won at the Laver Cup so far, as Alcaraz was beaten by Fritz in singles.
Alcaraz is scheduled to return to the doubles court again at the Laver Cup, as he will partner Casper Ruud against Michelsen and Reilly Opelka, as he looks to lead Team Europe to a comeback victory.