LONDON : Carlos Alcaraz may have put his injury problems behind him, but the lifelong Real Madrid supporter is enduring another kind of frustration as he watches the Spanish club struggle for consistency at the start of the season.
Real were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s derby and sit fourth in LaLiga with 15 points, six behind leaders Barcelona.
Asked about Real’s performances under new manager Jose Mourinho, seven-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz said the club could improve.
“Right now, I’m seeing other teams doing better. They are Real Madrid, great players, talented,” Alcaraz told Stats Perform on Wednesday ahead of the Laver Cup.
“As a team, they can do better. They have to work it out a little bit. I’m suffering right now watching the games because you never know what’s going to happen. I would say a little bit more intensity (is needed).”
Alcaraz, who will represent Team Europe at the three-day Laver Cup in London, also heard from teammate Casper Ruud on the football front, with the Norwegian praising compatriot and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
“His ratio of touches to goals, I mean, no one can match him. No one is even near,” former world number two Ruud said.
The Laver Cup begins on Friday, with Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Mensik and Rafael Jodar also representing Team Europe.
Team World, captained by Andre Agassi, includes Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Bublik and Francisco Cerundolo.
Team Europe, led by Yannick Noah, are seeking to reclaim the title after Team World won last year’s event in San Francisco.
