2024-09-22 20:43:15
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz sealed a straight-set win against American Taylor Fritz to lead Team Europe to a 13-11 victory at the Laver Cup in Berlin.
Team World had led 11-7 going into the penultimate match in the first-to-13 competition.
But with three points available for each win on day three, German Alexander Zverev’s 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 10-5 win over American Frances Tiafoe reduced World’s lead to a single point and forced a deciding match.
Alcaraz, who criticised the congested tennis schedule on Saturday, completed the thrilling comeback with a 6-2 7-5 triumph.
“We came here with a goal, all of us, to win the Laver Cup,” Alcaraz said.
“I’m really happy. We are happy about reaching our goal.”
“It has been a tough one, we almost lost, but Sascha [Zverev] came with some really good tennis.”
On day one, Argentina’s Francisco Ceralundo set World on their way with a win over Norway’s Casper Ruud, but Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas hit back when seeing off Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Europe moved into the lead when Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, however, the day ended level at 2-2 with American pair Fritz and Ben Shelton seeing off Alcaraz and Zverev in the doubles.
World claimed six of the eight points on offer during day two, opening up an 8-4 advantage.
Alcaraz was the only player to register a win for Europe on Saturday as Tiafoe and Fritz ran out winners in the singles, with Shelton and Tabilo delivering in the doubles.
The final day of action started positively for Europe, who lost 13-2 in 2023, with Ruud and Alcaraz combining to add three points to their tally in the doubles.
Shelton saw off Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in match 10 to put World on the brink of victory with only two points required to reach the target of 13.
Zverev found his groove at just the right time, winning his first match of the week to set up a decider.
And world number three Alcaraz, making his Laver Cup debut, held his nerve to get Europe over the line at the expense of US Open runner-up Fritz.
The inaugural Laver Cup took place in 2017 and Europe have now won five of the seven editions contested.
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