“Favourite player to share the court with because of how creative he is and the style he plays,” Ben Shelton mentioned showcasing his sheer admiration for Carlos Alcaraz. The renowned ATP stars clashed against each other in an amazing event at the Madison Square Garden in New York. During the event, fans saw a developing friendship between Shelton and Alcaraz as they captivated the American audience. However, Shelton is not the only American star Alcaraz gets along with. Now his blooming friendship with Frances Tiafoe has come to light.

Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe delighted fans with their playful banter during the Charlotte Invitational press conference. The exhibition event, which also featured Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys, brought these stars together for some exciting off-season action. Both Alcaraz and Tiafoe had fairly successful seasons. While Alcaraz clinched Grand Slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon, Tiafoe showcased his rising potential by making a deep run to the US Open semifinals.

When asked about their relationship during the press conference, Alcaraz responded with humor. “We hate each other,” the Spaniard said with a grin. Being never one to miss an opportunity for a quick retort, Tiafoe also chimed in, “I couldn’t agree more,” as he added to the lighthearted moment.

Alcaraz then explained the mutual respect they have built over time. “I think we have a really good relationship of the core. You know when we play on the court, we have huge request to each other. And I think that’s great for tennis and for the competition,” he said.

Tiafoe agreed and therefore took the cheeky banter forward with a touch of humor again. “Yeah, no, I agree. I mean, I think we’ve had some great battles. Obviously, we get along really well. He copies all the restaurants I go to. I run into him in a restaurant once in a tournament for sure. So that’s obviously pretty funny. But yeah, I mean, it’s been great, and he’s a hell of a player and will continue for a long time.”

Tiafoe is set to begin his 2025 season at the Brisbane International in Australia on December 30. Alcaraz has not revealed anything about the next tournament he will feature in, but has already set his sights on winning the Australian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton enjoy NBA action at Madison Square Garden

Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton were together on Tuesday night in New York, not on the tennis courts but courtside at an NBA game. The ATP stars attended the New York Knicks’ clash against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden with WTA stars Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro. The star-studded appearance added excitement to the evening as fans spotted some of the world’s finest tennis players enjoying the basketball showdown.

Alcaraz has had a stellar year as he finished as World No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings. His rivalry with Shelton has been a fascinating one, with the Spaniard leading their Head-to-Head by 2-0. Their most recent clash was at the Laver Cup in Berlin, where Alcaraz secured a straight-sets victory.

Shelton spoke highly of Alcaraz ahead of their exhibition match at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. “He’s my favourite player to share the court with because of how creative he is and the style he plays,” Shelton said. The 22-year-old added, “Every time we play, you hear the crowd go crazy on both sides. It’s one of the games I enjoy the most.”

As these friendships continue to blossom ahead of the 2025 season, fans are loving it. What do you think about Alcaraz’s prospects for the next season though? Will he win his fifth Grand Slam title in Melbourne? Let us know in the comments below.