How Alcaraz (almost) single-handedly won Team Europe the Laver Cup

Alcaraz took a big role in the behind-the-scenes strategy for Team Europe

23 September 2024

The spotlight was on Carlos Alcaraz when he stepped onto court to play the final match of the 2024 Laver Cup.

With the scores sitting at 11-10 in favour of Team World but each match on day three worth three points, it was a winner-takes-all clash. Team World had taken an 8-4 lead into the final day, and were on the brink of achieving the three-peat to see off departing captain John McEnroe.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man, as Alcaraz stepped up and played an hour and a half of brilliant tennis to beat US Open runner up Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 and seal a 13-11 victory for Team Europe.

But it wasn’t just Alcaraz’s clutch win on Sunday that bags him the unofficial title of Laver Cup MVP this year. The Spaniard won eight of Team Europe’s 13 points – the most by any player in Laver Cup history.

Six of these came on day three, with Alcaraz combining with Casper Ruud to beat Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe in the opening doubles tie of the day as well, 6-2, 7-6 (6). A day earlier, he had also defeated Shelton in a straight sets singles clash, 6-4, 6-4.

After the team’s victory, Alexander Zverev revealed that Alcaraz was also a driving force behind the scenes in deciding Team Europe’s strategy.

Alcaraz decides Team Europe’s Laver Cup fate

When asked what the thinking was behind Team Europe’s order of play on Sunday, Zverev said it was “extremely simple”.

“Carlos walked in. He decided, I want to play doubles with Casper. Then Daniil is gonna play singles against Shelton,” Zverev explained.

“Honestly we had, like, a half-an-hour meeting, and Carlos walked in and decided what we are going to do and we went to do that.”

Alcaraz confessed afterwards that he was rather pleased with his personal performance.

“I’m not gonna lie,” he said. “It was a pretty good feeling.

“I was really, really happy, honestly. I mean, obviously our goal was to win the Laver Cup. We did it. Personally I’m really, really happy.”

Captain Bjorn Borg was thrilled with how both Alcaraz and Zverev performed, with Zverev edging Tiafoe to give Alcaraz the chance to win it for Europe.

“I think the last two matches what Sascha and Carlitos did was unbelievable,” said Borg.

“They both have a lot of pressure. But they handled the pressure really well, and they played good tennis. But it’s a tough situation where they were in today with those two matches. But they did it.”