Friday, October 4, 2024
29 C
Brunei Town

Latest

Alcaraz defeated on Laver Cup debut

BERLIN (AFP) Carlos Alcaraz suffered a losing debut at the Laver Cup on Friday when he and Team Europe partner Alexander Zverev were defeated in straight sets in their doubles clash against Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton of Team World.

The US pair’s 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 win in the final match of the opening day in Berlin allowed Team World to level the tie overall at 2-2.

Fritz and Shelton fired 20 winners against world number two Zverev and third-ranked Alcaraz.

US’s Taylor Fritz (R) and US’s Ben Shelton (L) of Team World celebrate during their 2024 Laver Cup men’s doubles tennis match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz of Team Europe, in Berlin, on September 20, 2024. PHOTO: AFP

“We both served really well under pressure. Ben served incredibly well, so I didn’t have to hit any volleys. That was huge,” said Fritz playing for the first time since finishing runner-up to Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in New York 12 days ago.

Earlier Friday, Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 before Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled Team Europe level by seeing off Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4.

Grigor Dimitrov then edged Europe in front with a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2) victory against Alejandro Tabilo.

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz of Team Europe celebrates a point against USA’s Taylor Fritz and USA’s Ben Shelton of Team World during their 2024 Laver Cup men’s doubles tennis match in Berlin, Germany on September 20, 2024. PHOTO: AFP

There will be three more singles matches and one doubles match in Berlin on Saturday.

Team World is bidding to win a third consecutive Laver Cup this year after triumphing in London in 2022 and Vancouver last year.

spot_img

Related News

spot_img