Carlos Alcaraz defeats Taylor Fritz to win the European Team Laver Cup | ATP Tour
The Laver Cup
Alcaraz took down Fritz to complete Laver’s European Cup comeback
European team captain Borg ends his reign with victory
September 22, 2024
AFP/Getty Images
The European team celebrates its Laver Cup victory in Berlin.
Written by Andy West
Carlos Alcaraz produced a stunning performance on Sunday in Berlin to help Team Europe complete a thrilling 13-11 victory in the Laver Cup.
The No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings defeated Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5 in a winner-takes-all contest to ensure Team Europe lifts the team event trophy for the first time since 2021. Alcaraz, who started Sunday. He partnered Casper Ruud in an important doubles victory against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, and had the most power from the base of his Top-10 rival Fritz.
Carlitos is coming 💪
A 6-2 7-5 win over Fritz secures the Team Europe title. 🏆@LaverCup | #LaverCup | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/MVpi4wSxPM
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 22, 2024
Along with Ruud and Alexander Zverev, the latter of whom outlasted Frances Tiafoe 6-7 (5), 7-5, 10-5 to force a decider, Alcaraz ensured that Bjorn Borg completed seven years as European Group captain. for his fifth Laver Cup victory. Borg also led his men to victory in the first four editions of the event.
“It’s good. It’s clear that we came here with a goal, to win the Laver Cup,” Alcaraz said in his interview on the court. “We’re very happy to have reached our goal. We almost lost, but Sascha came with really good tennis that gave me a chance to win.”
The Spaniard broke Fritz’s lead twice in each set en route to a 90-minute victory at the Uber Arena. After he posted a game-tying record, Alcaraz’s teammates swept onto the field to celebrate with him and captain Borg.
“It’s always difficult to play Team World in the Laver Cup,” said Borg. “You saw some good tennis this week. I thought we wouldn’t win, but the boys played a good game of tennis and we won. For me, spending time with these players in Team Europe is very nice. We have a good team spirit and give it our all. I am very proud of my team.”
Despite the defeat, the World Team can look back on a brave effort in Berlin where, like Borg, John McEnroe also served as captain for the seventh and last time. Facing a European team with five players in the top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, at one point they were just three games away from victory when Tiafoe led Zverev by a set and a break in their singles meeting.
After Zverev converted the match, however, Alcaraz came out firing to improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Fritz. The basis of his victory was his performance, and he finished the match winning 80 percent (33/41) of the points after his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Despite conceding a break in the second set as Fritz went from 2-4 to 4-4, Alcaraz earned his fourth break of the match in the 11th game with a sharp return. From there, he made no mistake serving to defend the legendary Team Europe.
