The Laver Cup
A Zverev win sets up an Alcaraz-Fritz clash for the Laver Cup
Team World leads 11-10 heading into the final singles match
September 22, 2024
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for the Laver Cup
Alexander Zverev defeated Frances Tiafoe in three sets on Sunday at the Laver Cup in Berlin.
Written by Andy West
For the second time in its seven-year history, the Laver Cup will be decided by the final match on the Day 3 schedule. Carlos Alcaraz of the European team will face Taylor Fritz at the Uber Arena in Berlin to decide the champion in the 2024 edition of the team event.
Alexander Zverev pulled off an inspired victory against Frances Tiafoe to cut Team Europe’s deficit to 10-11 and set up the Alcaraz vs. Fritz. No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings was down a set and a break but eventually won 6-7 (5), 7-5, 10-5 to the delight of his home fans.
WHAT A GAME! 👏@AlexZverev erases an early deficit to defeat Tiafoe 6-7(5) 7-5 [10-5].@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/OIB4QL3LBV
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 22, 2024
Earlier, Alcaraz and fellow rescuer Casper Ruud put in an early scrimmage on the final day of work. The pair cut Team Europe’s overnight deficit to 7-8 with doubles victories over Shelton and Tiafoe.
The two won 6-2, 7-6(6) in a fun match to bring Team Europe closer to the group event. Alcaraz and Ruud, who ended up losing twice to Tsitsipas on Saturday evening, won after one hour, 40 minutes in a match full of high-quality shooting from all four players.
Alcaraz and Ruud, who lost a tough doubles match to Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday evening, defeated World Team Shelton and Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 7-6 (6) in a thrilling match at the Uber Arena to take out the Group. Europe is close to parity in the group event.
“It was disappointing last night. “I felt like I’ve never played two players before and it was really embarrassing,” said Ruud in his on-court interview. “I went to sleep. Carlos was eager to play. I don’t understand why, because what he saw yesterday was not good, but I’m glad he had faith in me.
“Carlos is a good guy, it’s fun to play with him, and he brought out the best in me today.”
One of the highlights of the match was a magnificent touch volley from Alcaraz at 2-3, 30/0 in the second set. Court interviewer Mark Petchey later played Alcaraz again in a Spanish court interview.
“I just tried to make that shot, too [once I did it]I felt very happy, I’m not going to lie,” said Alcaraz. “In training, my coach is Juan Carlos [Ferrero] he used to say to me, ‘If you go to the net, [hit the ball to the baseline]’. I was like, ‘I have to do it in practice to show in the matches’. Maybe if he looks at that gun, he won’t tell me that anymore.”
The European team’s comeback bid was then stopped in impressive fashion by Shelton, who outlasted Medvedev with a 6-7(6), 7-5, 10-7 victory in the first Lexus ATP Head2Head tournament. Shelton used his heavy left forehand to good effect, often dragging Medvedev around the court and digging deep at key moments to secure a hard-earned two-hour, three-minute victory.
That left the door open for Tiafoe to win Team World with a win over Zverev, but the American could not sustain his momentum after opening a 3-2 break in the second set. The World Team is chasing its third straight Laver Cup title this year, while Team Europe has won the first four editions of the event.
