Carlos Alcaraz is on the move again, this time in the United States for two exciting exhibition matches. Kicking off on December 4 at Madison Square Garden, he’ll face off against American Ben Shelton, followed by a showdown with Frances Tiafoe on December 7 in Charlotte. Despite a rocky end to his 2024 season, including an early exit from the ATP Finals and Spain’s disappointment at the Davis Cup, Alcaraz remains upbeat and ready for what’s next.

In a surprising twist, Alcaraz is making the most of his time in the U.S. He was spotted last night at Madison Square Garden with Shelton, enjoying the NBA Cup final between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic. The two tennis stars were seen courtside and later photographed with WTA players Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, showcasing their camaraderie ahead of their exhibition match at MSG.

Their last encounter was at the Laver Cup, where Alcaraz triumphed over Shelton, helping Team Europe advance in the tournament. With a head-to-head record of 2-0 in favor of Alcaraz, the rivalry seems friendly as they enjoy each other’s company off the court. Alcaraz even shared the moment on social media, reposting a picture from the game with the caption, “@nyknicks @benshelton 🫱🏻‍🫲🏻🫡.”

As young top players just a year apart in age, Alcaraz and Shelton appear to have formed a newfound friendship. While many await to see their clash at Madison Square Garden, Shelton was all praise for the Spaniard ahead of the clash.

Shelton praises the World No. 3 on his sharp skills on the court

The 2022 NCAA champion, praised Alcaraz for his versatility on the court, calling him his “favorite player to share the court with because of how creative he is and the style he plays.” The excitement builds as Shelton looks forward to their upcoming exhibition match, noting how the crowd goes wild whenever they face off. “Every time we play, you hear the crowd go crazy on both sides,” he said.

One might even remember Shelton praising Alcaraz’s mad skills following their Laver Cup matches, where he had called the Spaniard “Thanos” after a fan commented on his post referring to team Europe as the Avengers.

As they enjoy their time off the court, Alcaraz is looking forward to a big 2025 season. He plans to start training on December 9 after returning from New York. Recently, he added Samuel Lopez to his coaching team alongside Juan Carlos Ferrero, stating that they “trust each other 100%.” This new dynamic excites him as he shifts his focus to major titles instead of smaller tournaments. Alcaraz aims to clinch the elusive Australian Open title and complete his Grand Slam collection.

Despite his confidence though, Alcaraz is wary of his opponents Jannik Sinner and especially Novak Djokovic, who has teamed up with Andy Murray as his new coach. Ahead of his exhibition matches in New York, he expressed that facing Djokovic, with Murray as his coach now, would feel like battling two legends at once.

Well, fans need to fasten their seatbelts, because Melbourne will produce some thrilling action in a month. Do you think Alcaraz will win his maiden Australian Open title next year? Let us know in the comments below.