Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud win doubles against Team World, Laver Cup battle intensifies
Team Europe have turned the tide to their side with their first win on the final day of Laver Cup 2024. A win on the final day of the event counts for 3 points, thus the stakes being the highest on Sunday. Playing in the first clash of the ultimate day, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud secured a crucial victory over Team World's Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, winning 6-2, 7-6(6). The win resulted in 3 crucial points for Team Europe leading them to bridge the 8-4 gap to just a single point difference between the respective teams’ total. The victory by Europe has now set up a thrilling finish with three singles matches remaining.
Team Europe’s victorious start on Sunday has brought a remarkable thrill in the 2024 Laver Cup proceedings. Team World did a commendable job on the penultimate day where Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe won their singles clash, accumulating 8 points for Team World. Consequently, heading into the final day, Team World held an 8-4 advantage, but with all four matches on Sunday worth three points each, Europe’s win brought the score to 8-7. This means both teams now need to secure victories in two of the last three singles matches to clinch the title in Berlin.
Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud win against Team World as Laver Cup final gets underway
The doubles match, usually reserved as the closing contest on Friday and Saturday, opened Sunday’s schedule and proved decisive early on. Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud had a shaky start, facing a breakpoint in the second game, but a lucky mis-hit volley from Alcaraz helped them recover. In the following game, the Europeans seized momentum as a Ruud forehand grazed the net and left Tiafoe unable to respond, setting up three break points. Alcaraz capitalized on the third opportunity with a beautifully executed drop-volley. This breakthrough infused confidence into the European pair, while Shelton and Tiafoe began to falter, particularly after failing to convert a break-back point in the fourth game. Shelton, who had shone in Saturday’s doubles alongside Alejandro Tabilo, seemed to lose his sharpness at the net.
After securing the first set in just 37 minutes, Team Europe had an opportunity to take control of the second set in the third game but missed two break points. The American duo managed to stabilize their performance for the rest of the set, though they never had a break point of their own. One of the standout moments came in the sixth game, where Alcaraz hit an astonishing backhand volley, angling it across the court and leaving Tiafoe out of position, which ignited the crowd.
Interestingly, both the Team Europe’s contenders had come to the final doubles game after sustaining disappointing defeats on earlier days in the doubles setting. However, Team Europe's captain, Björn Borg, demonstrated his faith in Ruud, despite a tough outing for the Norwegian in Saturday's doubles match. The Alcaraz-Ruud pairing was strategically thought out, with the duo switching sides for returns. Ruud took the deuce court while Alcaraz dominated the ‘ad’ side, ensuring the Spaniard could handle key points with his aggressive returns, while Ruud focused on consistency.
The excitement for the 2024 Laver Cup champion continues with the remaining singles matches featuring Daniil Medvedev taking on Ben Shelton, Alexander Zverev battling Frances Tiafoe, and the final match potentially deciding the title with Carlos Alcaraz going up against Taylor Fritz. Both teams are now just two wins away from lifting the Laver Cup. If Team World manages to push through the challenge, they will lift the Laver Cup for the consecutive year.
