Electric Debut: Laver Cup Witnesses Jaw-Dropping Upset in Opening Match

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz celebrate the Cup victory

The celebration of a point by the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz and the German Alexander Zverev, yesterday against the Americans Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton

The American duo made up of Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton yesterday beat the one made up of the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz and the German Alexander Zverev, to tie the Laver Cup 2-2 after the first day.

Alcaraz and Zverev, who faced each other three months ago in the French Open final, came within a point of leading 5-4 in the second set. But they lost the set and the match.

The Americans resolved with their serve and won 7-6, (5) and 6-4.

This left Team Europe tied 2-2 with the Rest of the World, with two days of activity remaining in a tournament whose format is reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup.

The Rest of the World Team went ahead after the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo defeated the Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4 and 6-4 in the first duel in the indoor hard court tournament.

Ruud, ninth in the world rankings, accumulated 20 unforced errors and 11 winners.

Cerúndolo improved to 4-3 against Ruud.

Stefanos Tsitsipas helped Europe to a draw, with a 6-1 and 6-4 victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis.

The Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (4) and 7-6 (2), after more than two hours.

Each winner from yesterday received one point. Today’s winners will receive two and tomorrow’s three.

The first team to reach 13 units wins.

Alcaraz said he felt “a sensation with the team that I loved.”

The Murcian described his first match in the Laver Cup as “a great experience” and was “very happy” to be a duo with Alexander Zverev.

“It was a great game. We played well. In the first set, in the first games we lost some rallies. It’s difficult to play against a couple that serves like that. In the second set we had break options but we didn’t take advantage of them,” he added as keys.— AP AND EFE