Alcaraz gives Team Europe the Laver Cup title | ATP Tour

Making Cup

Alcaraz gives the Laver Cup title to Team Europe

The Spaniard won both matches he played on Sunday

September 22, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz has brought out his best form when it mattered most: in the match that decided the Laver Cup champion. Despite the fact that his team, Team Europe, was against them on aggregate (10-11) in the tournament, the Spaniard completed the comeback against Team Mundial by beating American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5.

The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, who entered the match with a 1-0 lead in his Lexus ATP HeadToHead with the most recent US Open finalist, rose to the occasion. After winning the first match of the day in doubles, partnering Casper Ruud and beating Shelton/Tiafoe, the Murcia native completed a dream debut in the tournament.

Although he was comfortably up 6-2, 4-2 and Fritz fought back, Alcaraz held firm, breaking again at 5-5 and leading Team Europe to its fifth title of the competition, and first since 2021, which ends Team World’s unbeaten run following its titles in London 2022 and Vancouver 2023.

“It’s great. Obviously we came here with one goal, to win the Laver Cup,” Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. “We are very, very happy that we achieved our goal. We almost lost, but ‘Sascha’ came with really good tennis and gave me the chance to win.”

“It’s always tough to play against Team Europe at the Laver Cup,” said captain Borg. “We saw some good tennis this week and I thought we weren’t going to win, but the boys played some great tennis and we did it. For me, spending time with these players on Team Europe is a lot of fun. We have a good team spirit and we gave it our all. I’m very proud of my team.”

For the third time in its seven-year history, the Laver Cup was decided on the final match of Day 3, thanks in part to Alexander Zverev being the home hero by taking the penultimate match.

The German pulled off an epic comeback win over Frances Tiafoe to keep Team Europe, who were just one win away from the title, alive. The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings won 6-7(5), 7-5, 10-5 in front of his home fans.

Earlier, Ben Shelton had scored an important victory to bring Team World closer to its third consecutive Laver Cup crown. The American managed to recover to turn the match around against Daniil Medvedev and leave the aggregate score against Team Europe in his favour by 11-7.

Shelton defeated Medvedev 6-7(6), 7-5, 10-7 in two hours and three minutes, in the duel that opened the Lexus ATP Head2Head between the two.

The No. 17 in the PIF ATP Rankings celebrated his first win in this team competition in the individual category, after having lost in his debut last Saturday against Carlos Alcaraz.

This result forced Team Europe, through Alexander Zverev and Alcaraz, to win the last two matches of the day against Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, respectively. And that’s what they achieved.

In the first match of this Sunday at the Uber Arena in Berlin, the doubles pair formed by Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud gave life to Team Europe, reducing the gap in the overall score (8-7).

The Europeans beat the World Team duo of Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 7-6(6) in a thrilling match. Alcaraz and Ruud, who had suffered a tough defeat in doubles last Saturday alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas, won in one hour and 40 minutes in a duel full of big points.

With the chance of earning three points per game this Sunday at the Laver Cup, Team Europe needed a win to get closer to Team World.

“Last night was a bit humiliating. I felt like I hadn’t played doubles before and it was quite embarrassing, honestly,” Ruud said after the match. “I went to bed. Carlos was eager to play. I don’t understand why, because what he saw yesterday wasn’t the best, but I’m happy that he had faith in me.”

“Carlos is a great player, he is a lot of fun to play with and he has brought out the best in me,” Ruud added.