BERLIN (AP) — Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz beat Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5 as Team Europe rallied to beat Team World 13-11 and win the Laver Cup on Sunday.
Alcaraz broke US Open finalist Fritz in the 11th game and then sealed the victory on his serve, sparking celebrations as the European team rejoiced with Captain Björn Borg in Berlin.
Team World were favourites to win the Laver Cup for the third consecutive time after leading 8-4 on points heading into the final of three days.
Europe began its comeback on Sunday with a 6-2, 7-6 (6) doubles victory over Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. But Shelton then eliminated Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (6), 7-5, 10-7 to put the world team in pole position.
Tiafoe, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open, could have sealed the victory for them, but he lost to Alexander Zverev, Roland-Garros finalist 6-7 (5), 7-5, 10-5, preparing the decisive match between Alcaraz and Fritz.
The Laver Cup is modelled on golf’s Ryder Cup, with the first team to score 13 points winning the competition. Each of the four matches on Sunday was worth three points.
The only European victory in Saturday’s four matches came from Alcaraz, who won the French Open And Wimbledon This year.
On Sunday, the 21-year-old Spaniard once again showed his big-match temperament.
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Tennis AP: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
