Taylor Fritz downs Alexander Zverev to seal Team World Laver Cup win over Europe
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Team World player Taylor Fritz hoists the trophy with teammates after defeating Team Europe during the Laver Cup at Chase Center.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SAN FRANCISCO – Taylor Fritz hailed the “energy” from a team event after holding off Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to seal Team World’s triumph in the Laver Cup on Sept 21, as two wins for Carlos Alcaraz on the final day proved too little for Team Europe.
Fritz fired a backhand volley winner on his first match point to give Team World a 15-9 victory over Europe in the global tennis event, sparking jubilant celebrations from his teammates and World captain Andre Agassi at Chase Centre – home of the National Basketball Association’s Golden State Warriors.
“The energy from the team, it just feels the moments of winning feel so much better, the moments of losing feel so much worse because you’re doing it for all these guys,” he said.
“It just fires me up so much,” added the fifth-ranked American, who had beaten Alcaraz on Sept 20 when Team World swept all four matches to seize a 9-3 lead.
“Seeing these guys on the bench getting pumped up, seeing a legend of the sport like Andre jumping out of his seat cheering for me, it’s just impossible not to give everything you have in every point.
“We’re going to have a fun night. We’re definitely popping champagne in the locker room.”
Team World had built a big 9-3 lead after a clean sweep on the second day. But with wins worth three points on the final day, there was still much to play for with four matches scheduled to reach the 13 points needed to prevail.
Alcaraz teamed up with Norway’s Casper Ruud to open proceedings, earning a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win over American pair Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka to narrow the gap.
However, Team Europe found themselves on the back foot again when Australia’s Alex de Minaur breezed past 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik 6-3, 6-4 it make it 12-6 in favour of Team World.
US Open champion Alcaraz kept Team Europe’s hopes alive by dispatching Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-1, leaving his team just three points adrift of their opponents.
Zverev then had the opportunity to level the scores at 12-12 and force a one-set doubles play-off but the German was unable to get past Fritz, as Team World regained the title they surrendered to Europe last September in Berlin.
Europe have won five of eight editions of the event, with the next one in 2026 set to be held in London. AFP, REUTERS
