American duo Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton emerged victorious in doubles against the formidable pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup on Friday, leveling the score at 2-2 after the first day of competition.
The match was a thrilling affair, with both teams showcasing their exceptional skills. Alcaraz and Zverev, who faced off in the French Open final earlier this year, held a point advantage in the second set but were unable to capitalize. Fritz and Shelton seized the opportunity, breaking serve and ultimately securing the win with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 scoreline.
The victory for Team World was preceded by a hard-fought singles match between Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina and Casper Ruud of Norway. Cerundolo, ranked 29th in the world, upset the ninth-ranked Ruud in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Ruud’s unforced errors proved costly, as he committed 20 compared to Cerundolo’s 11.
Team Europe responded with a dominant performance from Stefanos Tsitsipas, who defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4. Kokkinakis had previously ousted Tsitsipas at the U.S. Open, but Tsitsipas was in top form indoors, controlling the match from start to finish.
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov then extended Team Europe’s lead by defeating Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in a marathon match that lasted over two hours. Dimitrov prevailed in two tiebreakers, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2).
The Laver Cup format resembles golf’s Ryder Cup, with each match win worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday. The first team to reach 13 points will be crowned the champion.
In addition to the on-court action, the Laver Cup and the ATP tour announced a five-year extension to their existing agreement, ensuring the continuation of this prestigious event for years to come.
