Zverev win sets Alcaraz-Fritz clash for Laver Cup

For the third time in its seven-year history, the Laver Cup will be decided by the final match on the Day 3 schedule. Team Europe’s Carlos Alcaraz will take on Taylor Fritz at Berlin’s Uber Arena to decide the champion at the 2024 edition of the teams event.

Alexander Zverev pulled off an inspired comeback win against Frances Tiafoe to cut Team Europe’s deficit to 10-11 and set the Alcaraz vs. Fritz decider. The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings had trailed by a set and a break but ultimately prevailed 6-7(5), 7-5, 10-5 to the delight of his home fans.

WHAT A MATCH! ?@AlexZverev erases the early deficit to defeat Tiafoe 6-7(5) 7-5 [10-5].@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/OIB4QL3LBV

Earlier, Alcaraz and a redemption-seeking Casper Ruud injected some early intrigue into the final day of action. The pair reduced Team Europe’s overnight deficit to 7-8 with a classy doubles victory against Shelton and Tiafoe.

The duo prevailed 6-2, 7-6(6) in a thrilling encounter to haul Team Europe close to parity at the teams event. Alcaraz and Ruud, the latter of whom had struggled in a heavy doubles defeat alongside Tsitsipas on Saturday evening, triumphed after one hour, 40 minutes in an encounter packed with high-quality shotmaking from all four players.

Alcaraz and Ruud, the latter of whom had struggled in a heavy doubles defeat alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday evening, overcame Team World’s Shelton and Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 7-6(6) in a thrilling doubles encounter at Uber Arena to haul Team Europe close to parity at the teams event.

“It was a bit humiliating last night. I felt like I’d never played doubles before and it was quite embarrassing, honestly,” said Ruud in his on-court interview. “So I went to bed. Carlos was eager to play. I don’t understand why, because what he saw yesterday was not the best, but I’m happy that he had faith in me.

“Carlos is such a great guy, so fun to play with, and he brought out the best in me today.”

One of the highlights of the match was a stunning angled touch volley from Alcaraz at 2-3, 30/0 in the second set. On-court interviewer Mark Petchey later replayed the shot for Alcaraz in the Spaniard’s on-court interview.

“I just tried to do that shot, and [once I did it], I felt so good, I’m not going to lie,” said Alcaraz. “In practice my coach Juan Carlos [Ferrero] used to say to me, ‘If you go to the net, [hit the ball to the baseline]’. I used to say, ‘I have to do it in practice in order to show it in the matches’. Maybe if he watches that shot, he won’t tell me that anymore.”

Team Europe’s comeback bid was then stalled in impressive fashion by Shelton, who outlasted Medvedev for a 6-7(6), 7-5, 10-7 win in the pair’s maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash. Shelton deployed his heavy lefty forehand to good effect, frequently pulling Medvedev around the court and digging deep at key moments for a hard-earned two-hour, three minute triumph.

That left the door open for Tiafoe to clinch victory for Team World by overcoming Zverev, but the American was unable to maintain his momentum after opening a 3-2 lead with a break in the second set. Team World is chasing its third consecutive Laver Cup title this year, while Team Europe won the first four editions of the event.

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