Four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame 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 the U.S. Open runner-up Fritz in the 11th game and then closed out victory on serve, sparking celebrations as the Europe team rejoiced with captain Björn Borg in Berlin.
By defeating Fritz, Team World’s top-ranked player, Alcaraz secured three points and his second singles win of the weekend, during which he earned a total of eight points for the men in blue.
Team World was favorite to win the Laver Cup for a third straight time after leading 8-4 on points heading into the last of the three days.
Europe began the comeback Sunday when Alcaraz and Casper Ruud won the doubles 6-2, 7-6 (6) against American pair Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. But Shelton then downed Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (6), 7-5, 10-7 to move the World team into pole position.
Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals, could have sealed it for them but he lost to French Open finalist Alexander Zverev 6-7 (5), 7-5, 10-5, setting up the decider between Alcaraz and Fritz.
The Laver Cup is formatted like golf’s Ryder Cup with the first team to 13 points winning the contest. Each of the four matches on Sunday was worth three points.
Europe’s only win in Saturday’s four matches came from Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
On Sunday, the 21-year-old Spaniard showed his big-match temperament once again.
“We did it for you,” Alcaraz said while hugging Borg after first being encircled by his ecstatic teammates who charged onto the iconic black court to celebrate with the debutant.
“It’s great, obviously we came here with a goal, all of us, that is to win the Laver Cup,” said the 21-year-old.
“We almost lost, you know, but Sascha [Zverev] came with really good tennis, and give me the chance to win the Laver Cup so I think we are really, really happy with everything,” beamed the Spaniard.
“It’s really difficult to watch the matches from outside, you know, a lot of nerves, killing us,” he smiled.
“It’s always tough to play Team World at Laver Cup,” Borg said. “I’m very proud of my team.”
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