Laver Cup: Alcaraz victorious in high-quality match vs Shelton, equalises for Team Europe

Team World and Team Europe have been neck-and-neck so far during the 2024 Laver Cup, and this trend looks set to continue after Carlos Alcaraz won against American Ben Shelton (6-4, 6-4) and brought the overall score to 4 points each. Earlier today, Frances Tiafoe prevailed against Danill Medvedev (3-6, 6-4, 10-5) which gave Team World the early lead.

The first set between Alcaraz and Shelton was a tight affair, with the American being the first to produce a break point, however, the world No 3, in typical fashion, saved all four in total. Alcaraz was initially unable to take a break point of his own, wasting multiple chances against the big-serving American, before breaking at 3-3 which proved to be the fatal blow. 6-4 to the Spaniard.

Meanwhile in the second set, the serve was dominant from both, with the two players only managing to produce one break point on each other’s serve. However, in what may summarise their current career positions, it was the four-time major champion that took his chance, whilst the 2023 US Open semi-finalist did not. Again, this would decide the second set and, ultimately, the match for a 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Overall – despite having the weaker serve – Alcaraz won 78 percent of his first serve points compared to Shelton’s 66 percent, and launched down 23 winners in total, eight more than the American.

Alcaraz: “I played a really solid match”

“First of all, I am really happy to be part of Team Europe for the first time, and am trying to be the best player that I can be to help my team. I played against a player that is really powerful, a really tough one, I’m really happy because I played a really solid match since the beginning. Especially on the return, which is something I knew I had to do to have a chance to beat him.”

Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz will now face each other before a doubles match will conclude the second day’s play.

Results of the first day (each victory counts one point):

1. Cerundolo (World) b. Ruud (Europe): 6-4, 6-4 | World 1-0 Europe
2. Tsitsipas (E) b. Kokkinakis (W): 6-1, 6-4 | World 1-1 Europe
3. Dimitrov (E) b. Tabilo (W): 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) | World 1-2 Europe
4. Fritz/Ben Shelton (W) b. Zverev/Alcaraz (E): 7-6 (5), 6-4 | World 2-2 Europe

Results of the second day (each victory counts two points):

1. Tiafoe (World) b. Medvedev (Europe): 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 | World 4-2 Europe
2. Alcaraz (Europe) b. Shelton (World) : 6-4, 6-4 | World 4-4 Europe
3. Fritz (World) b. Zverev (Europe) : 6-4, 7-5 | World 6-4 Europe

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