Sublime Alcaraz delivers Laver Cup for Team Europe

BERLIN: Carlos Alcaraz beat Taylor Fritz 6-2 7-5 to hand Team Europe a 13-11 victory over Team World in the Laver Cup in the last session of the tournament on Sunday.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz romped through a one-sided first set before finishing off U.S. Open finalist Fritz as Team Europe clinched their fifth Laver Cup title. “It’s been great. Obviously, we came here as a group, all of us to win the Laver Cup. I’m pretty happy. I think everybody, for us, is,” said Alcaraz. “I mean, it’s been a really tough one... we almost lost.”

Team World looked in a commanding position on Saturday when Ben Shelton and Alejandro Tabilo defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud to put them 8-4 up. However, captain Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe came into the final day of competition full of fight and Alcaraz teamed up with Ruud to defeat Americans Shelton and Frances Tiafoe 6-2 7-6(6) in the early doubles match to take three points and reduce the deficit to 8-7.

Team World extended their lead when Shelton beat Daniil Medvedev 6-7(6) 7-5 10-7 putting the team captained by John McEnroe within touching distance of a third consecutive title. However, Alexander Zverev gave Team Europe hope when he overcame Tiafoe 6-7(5) 7-5 10-5 to send the competition into a thrilling final session where French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz wrapped up victory.

Next year’s Laver Cup takes place in San Francisco. Players struggle with injury and motivation due to tight calendar, Alcaraz says Four-time grand slam winner Carlos Alcaraz said a tight tennis calendar makes it difficult for players to stay motivated throughout the year and increases the risk of injuries.

The world number three, who has won the French Open and Wimbledon this year apart from a silver medal in the Paris Olympics, said he feared the situation would worsen in the future with more mandatory tournaments added to the calendar. “Probably during the next few years, it’s going to be even more mandatory tournaments.”