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Unstoppable Alcaraz downs Fritz to give Team Europe victory in Laver Cup

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3 months ago

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Unstoppable Alcaraz downs Fritz to give Team Europe victory in Laver Cup

“It’s great,” Alcaraz said. “We came here with a goal, to win the Laver Cup. I’m really happy. We are all really happy to win the Laver Cup. It’s been a really top one. We almost lost but Sascha (Zverev) came with really good tennis to give me a chance to play and win the Laver Cup. We’re really happy with everything.

Bjorn Borg, in his last edition as Europe captain, could hardly believe the turnaround. “I thought four, five hours ago, we’re not going to win this but the guys came through to win this,” he said. “I’m so proud of this team.”

Alcaraz was right on the money from the very start of the match, hammering a brilliant inside out forehand to gain an early break in the third game.

The Spaniard dropped just two points on serve in a first set that lasted just 31 minutes, never allowing Fritz a chance to catch his breath. The American consulted the doctor at 4-1 down, taking some pills but it was the game of Alcaraz that was giving him a headache. Two breaks was too much of a lead and he wrapped up the set with ease.

Alcaraz holds off FRITZ EFFORT

Fritz began the second set with a good hold but he was constantly on the defensive as Alcaraz came at him with every part of his game.

The Spaniard’s serve was firing so well that he felt able to serve and volley at will, a beautiful drop volley in the second game of the set showing off his hand skills. A beautiful drop shot set up a break point at 1-1 and Fritz then buckled under the pressure, mis-hitting a forehand wide to give Alcaraz the break.

Fritz raised his level in the fourth game, forcing three break points but Alcaraz saved each one with aggressive, purposeful hitting to shut the door on any hopes the American might have had of a comeback.

The pressure was relentless and a double fault from Fritz at 2-4 gave Alcaraz a break point but he saved it with a sixth ace and went on to hold. And that hold proved to be vital as Alcaraz’s level dropped and Fritz took advantage to get the break back.

After holding for 5-4, Fritz played an outrageous drop shot winner but Alcaraz steadied the ship to hold for 5-5. His equilibrium restored, he hit two great returns right onto the baseline and the second of them forced Fritz to send a forehand long and give Alcaraz the break.

Day 1 results (each victory = 1 point):

  1. Cerundolo (World) b. Ruud (Europe): 6-4, 6-4 | World 1-0 Europe
  2. Tsitsipas (E) b. Kokkinakis (W): 6-1, 6-4 | World 1-1 Europe
  3. Dimitrov (E) b. Tabilo (W): 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) | World 1-2 Europe
  4. Fritz/Ben Shelton (W) b. Zverev/Alcaraz (E): 7-6 (5), 6-4 | World 2-2 Europe

Day 2 results (each victory = 2 points):

  1. Tiafoe (World) b. Medvedev (Europe): 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 | World 4-2 Europe
  2. Alcaraz (Europe) b. Shelton (World) : 6-4, 6-4 | World 4-4 Europe
  3. Fritz (World) b. Zverev (Europe) : 6-4, 7-5 | World 6-4 Europe
  4. Shelton/Tabilo (World) b. Tstisipas/Ruud (Europe) : 6-1, 6-2 | World 8-4 Europe

Day 3 results (each victory = 3 points):

  1. Alcaraz/Ruud (Europe) b. Shelton/Tiafoe (Europe): 6-2, 7-6 (6) | World 8-7 Europe
  2. Shelton (World) b. Medvedev (Europe): 6-7 (6), 7-5, 10-7 | World 11-7 Europe
  3. Zverev (Europe) b. Tiafoe (World): 6-7 (5), 7-5, 10-5 | World 11-10 Europe
  4. Alcaraz (Europe) b. Fritz (World): 6-2, 7-5 | Europe 13-11 World
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