Carlos Alcaraz wrote Laver Cup history in Berlin, leading Team Europe toward the title. The four-time Major winner will return to the prestigious team event in 2025, signing to play in San Francisco between September 19 and 21.
Carlos debuted at the Laver Cup this September and lost the opening doubles match. However, he bounced back and felt the team vibes, earning three triumphs for the blue squad and writing history books. Alcaraz delivered two singles and one doubles win.
Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
Thus, he became the first player to collect eight points in a single Laver Cup campaign, including the decisive one against Taylor Fritz. Team World led 8-4 and 11-7. Alexander Zverev prevailed over Frances Tiafoe to keep Team Europe alive.
Alcaraz stepped in and clinched a decider versus Taylor Fritz, lifting a trophy for his team and starting a massive celebration. The Spaniard, who loves everything about this competition. will seek another title for Team Europe in San Francisco next year.
Just Carlos Alcaraz things. @carlosalcaraz | #LaverCup | @eurosport pic.twitter.com/ZX1U0HioAa
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 22, 2024
Carlos loses the opening Laver Cup match
The four-time Major winner started his Laver Cup journey in the doubles on the opening day. Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev battled against Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton and suffered a 7-6, 6-4 loss. The Americans saved four of five break points.
They converted both break chances to make a difference and win a point for Team World. Fritz and Shelton grabbed a break in the fourth game of the opener and moved 5-2 in front. Carlos and Alexander broke back at the last moment at 3-5 and prolonged the set.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
It went into a tie break, and the Americans grabbed an early mini-break and served well for 7-5 and a boost. Fritz and Shelton saved four break points at 1-2 in the second set and broke their rivals at 4-4. The American sealed the deal with a hold in game ten.
Thus, Team Europe and Team World finished the opening day with two wins each.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
Alcaraz scores his first Laver Cup victory
A day later, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton met in the second match. The Spaniard secured a 6-4, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 43 minutes, locking the result at 4-4 after six encounters. The American struggled to impose his strokes on the slow indoor court.
Ben hit two aces and played against 11 break points. He defended nine, fighting hard but losing serve once in each set. Alcaraz landed in 78% of the first serve and took 78% of the points behind it. He saved all five break points and controlled the scoreboard.
Carlos landed 23 winners and 13 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and entertaining the crowd with spectacular points. They served well in the opening four games before experiencing issues behind the initial shot. We saw 14 break chances in five straight games!
The moment Carlos Alcaraz regained the Laver Cup for Team Europe 🤩🏆#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/2SfgJSwBPb
— Eurosport (@eurosport) September 22, 2024
A left-hander played against two break points in the fifth game, denying them with fine hitting. Shelton missed a break chance in the sixth game after a loose shot. Alcaraz denied two more with service winners before locking the result at 3-3.
Ben played against six break points in the seventh game. He missed a backhand on the last, suffering a break and sending his opponent 4-3 in front. The American squandered a break chance in the eighth game with a loose shot, falling 5-3 behind.
A left-hander struggled again in the ninth game, playing against two set points. He denied them with a crafty lob and a winner at the net, holding and extending the battle. Carlos served for the set in game 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 more fluid, with break chances in the opening games and eight commanding holds. Shelton netted a forehand in the first game of the second set, falling a set and a break behind. Alcaraz saved a break point in the second game and extended the advantage.
Carlos closed the fourth game with a lucky net cord backhand winner for 3-1. The Spaniard closed the sixth game with a serve & volley combo before the American held at love in the next one for 3-4. World no. 3 secured the eighth game with a crafty volley winner.
He served for the win at 5-4 and embraced a serve & volley on the first match point, sealing the deal and leveling the overall score at 4-4.
Carlos writes the Laver Cup history
Team World grabbed the remaining two matches of the day, entering the final day with an 8-4 advantage. Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud faced Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, trying to keep Team Europe alive. They earned a 6-2, 7-6 victory, reducing the deficit to 8-7.
However, Shelton prevailed over Daniil Medvedev and sent Team World closer to the title defense. With no room for errors, Alexander Zverev prevailed over Frances Tiafoe. Thus, Carlos Alcaraz got an opportunity 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 point of the week and sent Team Europe over the top for a massive celebration. Two rivals met for the first time in a year and a half.
Carlos controlled the scoreboard and led 6-4, 4-2. Taylor bounced back and made the second set more interesting before falling in the closing stages. The Spaniard served at 73% and took 80% of the points behind the first serve. He saved three of four break points.
The American felt the pressure and got broken four times from six chances offered to his opponent. Alcaraz landed 24 winners and 18 unforced errors, rushing to the net and feeling the points on his racquet. Fritz could not follow that pace, remaining below ten winners and spraying errors.
Carlos Alcaraz, Laver Cup 2024© Stream screenshot
The four-time Major winner made a reliable start. He barely lost a point in his games in the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side. Alcaraz grabbed a break in the third game and provided another two games later for a 4-1 advantage.
Carlos served well in games six and eight, wrapping up the opener in style and gaining a boost. He broke again in the third game of the second set and saved break points in the next one for a 6-2, 3-1 lead. Fritz saved a break point in the seventh game to stay alive.
He made a push on the return in the next one and delivered his only break, turning the tables and opening a 5-4 advantage. Carlos kept his composure and secured a break in the 11th game, moving 6-5 up and sealing the deal for Team Europe on his serve a few minutes later.
Tennis World USA