Carlos Alcaraz Leads Team Europe to Thrilling Laver Cup Victory
Carlos Alcaraz delivered a clutch performance, defeating Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5 to secure a dramatic 13-11 victory for Team Europe over Team World in the final session of the Laver Cup on Sunday. The win gave Team Europe their fifth Laver Cup title.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, dominated the first set before overcoming a strong challenge from Fritz in the second. Reflecting on the victory, Alcaraz expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s been great. We came here as a group, all determined to win the Laver Cup, and I’m really happy we achieved that. It was tough… we almost lost.”
The tournament saw plenty of twists, with Team World holding a strong lead on Saturday. Ben Shelton and Alejandro Tabilo’s victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud put Team World ahead 8-4. However, Team Europe, led by captain Bjorn Borg, mounted a fierce comeback on the final day.
Alcaraz and Ruud started Sunday strong, defeating Americans Shelton and Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 7-6(6) in doubles, earning three crucial points to close the gap to 8-7. Team World responded with Shelton’s impressive win over Daniil Medvedev, putting them on the verge of victory at 10-7.
But Alexander Zverev kept Team Europe’s hopes alive, defeating Tiafoe in a tight match, 6-7(5), 7-5, 10-5, forcing a final showdown. In the deciding match, Alcaraz stepped up once again, securing Team Europe’s victory with his win over Fritz.
Next year’s Laver Cup will be held in San Francisco.
Alcaraz Voices Concerns Over Tennis Calendar
Alcaraz also highlighted the challenges posed by the tennis calendar, noting how the packed schedule makes it difficult for players to stay motivated and healthy throughout the year. The world No. 3, who has claimed French Open and Wimbledon titles this year, expressed concerns that the situation may worsen with the introduction of more mandatory tournaments.
“With more tournaments becoming mandatory in the next few years, it’s going to be even harder for players to manage their schedule and avoid injuries,” said Alcaraz, reflecting the growing concern among top players about the demanding tour structure.
