Carlos Alcaraz will soon be back on British soil for the Laver Cup, where Team Europe will take on Team World in London this month. For the 23-year-old Spaniard, part of the appeal is having the chance to play alongside the rivals he usually faces from the other side of the net.
Princess Charlotte is a huge fan of the tennis champion and first encountered him backstage at Wimbledon in 2023. She then met him again a year later at SW19, proudly shaking his hand in a moment that went viral.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO! ahead of Laver Cup 2026, Carlos said: “Well, I didn’t expect that, to be honest! I mean, I’m just really, really happy that the time I was playing at Wimbledon, I saw them supporting and coming to one of my matches – it means a lot to me.
“The years that I won Wimbledon, after the trophy ceremony, I had the chance to talk with the family a little bit. It was a really great moment for me.”
On his hopes of reuniting with his young royal fan in London, Carlos added: “I couldn’t play at Wimbledon this year, so hopefully I’m going to see them supporting us at Laver Cup. It’s great to know the family are supporting me along the way!”
© Getty ImagesCarlos has won the Wimbledon men’s singles title twice, in 2023 and 2024, and more recently became the youngest male athlete to win the Australian Open in January when he defeated Novak Djokovic.
The official Wimbledon Instagram account commemorated the moment with a photo of the sportsman and a beaming Charlotte shaking hands. “A handshake for the champion from HRH Princess Charlotte [purple heart emoji],” the photo was captioned.
While the prospect of another royal reunion would make his London return particularly special, Carlos is also looking forward to the unique experience of competing alongside players he would usually face as rivals.
© Getty Images for Laver Cup“Well, I think first of all, the atmosphere we experience at the Laver Cup is totally different than other tournaments, playing alongside players that you are used to fighting against each other during the whole year. Having them as teammates is really special. That’s unique and that’s what makes me come back.”
And Carlos already has one clear ambition for his return to the capital: helping Team Europe retain the trophy.
“My goal for Laver Cup 2026 is to bring the trophy back to Europe,” he added. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to give Yannick and Tim the trophy they deserve. It’s going to be a great moment to play in London and to have the crowd behind us.”
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