Carlos Alcaraz delivered two stellar performances in Berlin, propelling Team Europe to a dramatic 13-11 comeback win over Team World to claim the Laver Cup title. In a decisive singles match on Sunday night, the Spanish star defeated Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, securing the points needed for Team Europe to lift the trophy for the first time since 2021.
Alcaraz’s victory over Fritz earned Team Europe three crucial points, bringing his total contribution for the weekend to eight. This marks his second singles win of the tournament, capping off a spectacular debut for the young Spaniard.
The triumph gave Team Europe their fifth Laver Cup title, a fitting farewell for outgoing captain Bjorn Borg, who concluded his tenure with a 5-2 record against his longtime rival and Team World captain, John McEnroe.
The final day of competition began with Team Europe trailing 4-8. Alcaraz and teammate Casper Ruud set the stage for the comeback by winning the day’s opening doubles match against Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, narrowing the gap. Although Daniil Medvedev lost a close contest to Shelton in a Laver Breaker, Alexander Zverev kept Team Europe’s hopes alive by defeating Tiafoe in another nail-biting Laver Breaker.
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Alcaraz then sealed the victory in the final singles match, sparking wild celebrations from his teammates, who rushed onto the court to embrace him and Borg. “We did it for you,” Alcaraz told Borg after the win, a heartfelt moment between the debutant and his departing captain.
Reflecting on the weekend, Alcaraz said, “It’s great, obviously we came here with a goal, all of us, and that was to win the Laver Cup. We almost lost, but Sascha [Zverev] played really well and gave me the chance to win it for us. We’re really happy with everything.”
Borg expressed his pride in the team, saying, “It’s really difficult watching from the outside, the nerves were killing us. It’s always tough to play Team World at the Laver Cup, but I’m very proud of my team.”
