The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz He beat the American 6-2 and 7-5 Taylor Fritz and gave to the Team Europe the fifth Laver Cup from his story about Rest of the World Teamafter completing a spectacular 13-11 comeback on the last day of the competition held in Berlinin which the Murcian has been the undisputed hero.
In the duel that was going to determine the best team and that was left open after the agonizing effort made by the German Alexander Zverev in the previous clash against the American Frances Tiafoe, the one from El Palmar did not fail. He had in his hands the chance to be the hero of a historic feat as the one that led Europe Txema Olazabal at the 2012 Ryder Cup golf tournament, the competition that inspired this tournament named after the Australian legend Rod Laver.
In front of him was one of the most in-form players on the circuit, a recent finalist of the US Openand that had already spoiled the Murcian’s debut on Friday at the Laver -in that case in doubles-. That’s right, Carlitos had defeated him on the only occasion in which they had measured themselves (Miami Masters 1000 2023).
With the people still in the stands of the Uber Arena turned to the Spanish – one could even hear a “For Rafa, Carlos!” – Alcaraz could not fail and already in the third game he destroyed the service of Fritz with a masterful right hook.
The legendary Bjorn Borg, captain of Team Europe, watched from the bench the figure of someone who seemed to remember that magical tennis player that was the Swede. His spirit invaded the Murcianwho with his ingenuity and determination He doubled the break against Fritz on his next return and began to decide the final in the farewell of the emblematic two-time Grand Slam champion at the head of the Old Continent team.
Carlos continued with a masterful arsenal to chain game after game and close the first set with ease, 6-2, to start taking the lead Laver Cup After two years of triumph for the McEnroe, who also leaves the leadership of his block.
The second set started with its most cannibalistic version. In what seemed like an easy game for Fritz, the third of the set, with 40-0 in his favor, The world number 3 reveled in his own genius to take the lead from the Californian and get another break. The seventh best player in the world could only be amazed by the wave that was sweeping over him.
With the Alcaraz gale In all its magnitude, the American tried to get hooked into the match and had three break points in the next service of the current Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, but his attempt at a reaction crashed in the face of the voracity of Carlos.
Warned by the improvement of his rival, the Spanish tried to give his game a boost to leave no room for any hope for the American, but Fritz began to believe that he could get into the game. In the ninth game of the second set, The Californian displayed his best game to recover the break against an Alcaraz who was somewhat uncertain for the first time in the match.
It didn’t take long for the doubts to be dispelled. With the score at 5-5 and the number 7 in the ATP rankings serving, Carlos returned to his former glory to end Fritz’s dream and put victory back in his hands. He would seal it in the next game with a serve that the American could not return. An example of what the match was like.
A day that had begun with 8-4 for the World Teamand that reached 11-7 (victories added three points in the general on Sunday) with up to two options of victory for McEnroe’s men, ended with a 13-11 for the Old Continent and a clear hero in the feat: Carlos Alcaraz.
After his bitter passage through the American tourAlcaraz regained his sensations in the Davis Cup with Spain last week and has finally confirmed the return of his best tennis in another team competition ahead of the Asian tour. Because when a team has the magical Carlos in its ranks, it is easier for them to win. The new hero of Berlin.
