Carlos Alcaraz wrote Laver Cup historical past in Berlin, main Staff Europe towards the title. The four-time Main winner will return to the celebrated workforce occasion in 2025, signing to play in San Francisco between September 19 and 21.
Carlos debuted on the Laver Cup this September and misplaced the opening doubles match. Nevertheless, he bounced again and felt the workforce vibes, incomes three triumphs for the blue squad and writing historical past books. Alcaraz delivered two singles and one doubles win.
Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
Thus, he grew to become the primary participant to gather eight factors in a single Laver Cup marketing campaign, together with the decisive one in opposition to Taylor Fritz. Staff World led 8-4 and 11-7. Alexander Zverev prevailed over Frances Tiafoe to maintain Staff Europe alive.
Alcaraz stepped in and clinched a decider versus Taylor Fritz, lifting a trophy for his workforce and beginning a large celebration. The Spaniard, who loves every little thing about this competitors. will search one other title for Staff Europe in San Francisco subsequent 12 months.
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 22, 2024 Carlos loses the opening Laver Cup match
The four-time Main winner began his Laver Cup journey within the doubles on the opening day. Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev battled in opposition to Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton and suffered a 7-6, 6-4 loss. The People saved 4 of 5 break factors.
They transformed each break probabilities to make a distinction and win a degree for Staff World. Fritz and Shelton grabbed a break within the fourth sport of the opener and moved 5-2 in entrance. Carlos and Alexander broke again on the final second at 3-5 and extended the set.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
It went right into a tie break, and the People grabbed an early mini-break and served effectively for 7-5 and a lift. Fritz and Shelton saved 4 break factors at 1-2 within the second set and broke their rivals at 4-4. The American sealed the cope with a maintain in sport ten.
Thus, Staff Europe and Staff World completed the opening day with two wins every.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
Alcaraz scores his first Laver Cup victory
A day later, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton met within the second match. The Spaniard secured a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 43 minutes, locking the outcome at 4-4 after six encounters. The American struggled to impose his strokes on the gradual indoor court docket.
Ben hit two aces and performed in opposition to 11 break factors. He defended 9, combating exhausting however shedding serve as soon as in every set. Alcaraz landed in 78% of the primary serve and took 78% of the factors behind it. He saved all 5 break factors and managed the scoreboard.
Carlos landed 23 winners and 13 unforced errors, taming his strokes properly and entertaining the gang with spectacular factors. They served effectively within the opening 4 video games earlier than experiencing points behind the preliminary shot. We noticed 14 break probabilities in 5 straight video games!
The second Carlos Alcaraz regained the Laver Cup for Staff Europe 🤩🏆#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/2SfgJSwBPb
— Eurosport (@eurosport) September 22, 2024
A left-hander performed in opposition to two break factors within the fifth sport, denying them with advantageous hitting. Shelton missed a break likelihood within the sixth sport after a unfastened shot. Alcaraz denied two extra with service winners earlier than locking the outcome at 3-3.
Ben performed in opposition to six break factors within the seventh sport. He missed a backhand on the final, struggling a break and sending his opponent 4-3 in entrance. The American squandered a break likelihood within the eighth sport with a unfastened shot, falling 5-3 behind.
A left-hander struggled once more within the ninth sport, taking part in in opposition to two set factors. He denied them with a artful lob and a winner on the web, holding and lengthening the battle. Carlos served for the set in sport ten and held at love with a service winner for 6-4 after 61 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
The second set was extra fluid, with break probabilities within the opening video games and eight commanding holds. Shelton netted a forehand within the first sport of the second set, falling a set and a break behind. Alcaraz saved a break level within the second sport and prolonged the benefit.
Carlos closed the fourth sport with a fortunate web wire backhand winner for 3-1. The Spaniard closed the sixth sport with a serve & volley combo earlier than the American held at love within the subsequent one for 3-4. World no. 3 secured the eighth sport with a artful volley winner.
He served for the win at 5-4 and embraced a serve & volley on the primary match level, sealing the deal and leveling the general rating at 4-4.
Carlos writes the Laver Cup historical past
Staff World grabbed the remaining two matches of the day, getting into the ultimate day with an 8-4 benefit. Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud confronted Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, attempting to maintain Staff Europe alive. They earned a 6-2, 7-6 victory, lowering the deficit to 8-7.
Nevertheless, Shelton prevailed over Daniil Medvedev and despatched Staff World nearer to the title protection. With no room for errors, Alexander Zverev prevailed over Frances Tiafoe. Thus, Carlos Alcaraz received a possibility to chase the crown versus Taylor Fritz.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
In a winner-takes-all duel, Alcaraz defeated Fritz 6-2, 7-5 in an hour and 29 minutes. He earned his eighth level of the week and despatched Staff Europe excessive for a large celebration. Two rivals met for the primary time in a 12 months and a half.
Carlos managed the scoreboard and led 6-4, 4-2. Taylor bounced again and made the second set extra attention-grabbing earlier than falling within the closing levels. The Spaniard served at 73% and took 80% of the factors behind the primary serve. He saved three of 4 break factors.
The American felt the strain and received damaged 4 instances from six probabilities provided to his opponent. Alcaraz landed 24 winners and 18 unforced errors, dashing to the online and feeling the factors on his racquet. Fritz couldn’t observe that tempo, remaining under ten winners and spraying errors.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
The four-time Main winner made a dependable begin. He barely misplaced a degree in his video games within the opening set and stored the strain on the opposite facet. Alcaraz grabbed a break within the third sport and supplied one other two video games later for a 4-1 benefit.
Carlos served effectively in video games six and eight, wrapping up the opener in type and gaining a lift. He broke once more within the third sport of the second set and saved break factors within the subsequent one for a 6-2, 3-1 lead. Fritz saved a break level within the seventh sport to remain alive.
He made a push on the return within the subsequent one and delivered his solely break, turning the tables and opening a 5-4 benefit. Carlos stored his composure and secured a break within the eleventh sport, transferring 6-5 up and sealing the deal for Staff Europe on his serve a couple of minutes later.