By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, September 21, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz conjured highlight reel shots stopping Ben Shelton, 6-4, 6-4, to level Team Europe with Team World, 4-4, at Laver Cup.
Photo credit: Maja Hitij/Getty for Laver Cup
Late in the second set, a serve-and-volleying Carlos Alcaraz deadened a devious dropper that left a lunging Ben Shelton hanging on the net as if it were a clothesline.
Alcaraz unleashed finesse and speed smothering Shelton at key stages for an entertaining 6-4, 6-4, Laver Cup win at Uber Arena in Berlin.
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In his Laver Cup singles debut, Alcaraz dazzled the capacity crowd that included Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic, Mary Joe Fernandez and former NBA superstars Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitizki.
Alcaraz’s victory leveled Team Europe with Team World 4-4 after today’s day session.
Earlier, Frances Tiafoe defeat Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 to snap a five-match losing streak against the 2021 US Open champion and lift two-time defending champion Team World to a 4-2 lead.
Playing pivotal points with athletic ambition, Alcaraz saved all five break points he faced and applied his net skills defeating Shelton for the second time in as many meetings in what may well develop into a riveting rivalry for years to come.
“First of all, I’m really happy for being part of Team Europe for Laver Cup for the first time,” Alcaraz told Andrea Petkovic afterward. “I played against Ben, who is a really powerful player, a really tough one. I’m really happy because I played a really solid match. I think I put a lot of returns in, which I had to do if I wanted to beat him.
“I’m really happy to get the point for Team Europe.”
In an athletic point, Alcaraz unsettled Shelton with a low slice forehand to earn double break point in the fifth game. Shelton saved both break points then slid a serve winner down the T and hit a heavy forehand finishing a tough hold for 3-2 after 21 minutes.
Tightening the screws in the sixth game, Shelton earned three break points. Alcaraz erased all three, pumping a pair of heavy wide serves to save the last two. The Spaniard sifted a soft forehand drop shot winner to level after six games.
Alcaraz is second on the ATP in breaking serve this season trailing only Alex de Minaur in that category. Alcaraz applied break-point pressure in the seventh game. Shelton soared for a smash to save a third break point of that game.
Drama escalated as the game waged on for more than 10 minutes. By then, Shelton had saved all seven break points he faced.
The American hit a good drop shot, but the speedy Spaniard caught up to it and bunted a perfect backhand pass for another break point. This time, Shelton missed his first serve and Alcaraz made him pay, coaxing a netted forehand to finally end a frenetic seventh game break for 4-3.
Of course, it’s not really a break until you hold to confirm it.
Facing a break point in the ensuing game, Alcaraz was driven backward by a snapping Shelton return. The Wimbledon winner flicked back a forehand and caught a break when Shelton overhit a forehand long. Alcaraz subdued stress backing up the break for 5-3.
A tremendous sliding backhand dig from Alcaraz extended the point before the Spaniard looped a shot over Shelton’s head. Shelton pulled off the tweener reply down the line but Alcaraz was waiting to knock off the volley. The Spaniard won a nose-to-nose volley exchange for a break and set point.
Shelton saved it but Alcaraz fended off a 138 mph body serve for a second set point. Shelton erased it with a two-volley combination, holding firm to force Alcaraz to serve out the set.
A high-quality opening set climaxed with Alcaraz cracking a wide serve to slam shut a love hold. Alcaraz served 88 percent and made the lone service break stand to snatch the 62-minute opening set.
Disruptive speed around the court and his skill playing off Shelton’s pace, propelled Alcaraz’s ascent. Stretching the court, Alcaraz broke to start the second set when Shelton slapped a forehand into the middle of the net.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has won major titles on all surfaces. Alcaraz showed fluency on the low-bouncing, charcoal-colored court, sometimes mixing in the short slice to unsettling effect. Alcaraz saved a break point backing up the break for a 2-0 second-set lead.
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The Wimbledon winner wrapped up a one hour, 43-minute victory with a pristine serve-and-volley winner.
“It's totally different for me. It’s a privilege to play for Bjorn, to play for my team, for them,” Alcaraz said. “All I want to say is Juan Carlos [Ferrero] if he is watching me be careful with the position of coach because I have great coaches here. It’s a really unique experience and I’m really enjoying it.
“In the other tournaments I feel I’m playing for myself and when you’re playing as a team you’re playing for them as well. You feel a little bit more the pressure because you feel you have to win for them. I feel a little bit more the pressure, but I feel the energy also.”
Frances Tiafoe (World) d. Daniil Medvedev (Europe) 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
Winless in five prior meetings vs. Daniil Medvedev, Frances Tiafoe responded with legendary intent today.
Tiafoe channeled his inner Roger Federer in surprising Medvedev 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 to put Team World ahead 4-2 on Laver Cup Day 2.
Attacking at the right times, Tiafoe won 28 of his 68 points at net to out-duel Medvedev with Federer-esque flair.
“It was crazy. I played pretty well there in that second set,” Tiafoe told Mark Petchey in his on-court interview afterward. “Honestly, I just started having fun. Laughing with my team over there. Having fun and started to find my rhythm.
“Court is obviously slower than what I’m used to playing on. It’s tough playing Daniil on this court. Midway through the second set and the tiebreaker, I felt like I was Roger Federer honestly.”
That Fed flashback prompted a thumbs-up from Federer himself, who watched the match and post-match interview from the stands next to friend Anna Wintour.
Fearlessness is a primary factor in Tiafoe’s summer resurgence.
“I have a lot more confidence in myself,” said Tiafoe, who had lost 11 of 12 prior sets to former No. 1 Medvedev. “I’m having a lot of fun playing the game at the moment. I’m just trying to play the right way and compete as hard as I can and let the chips fall where they may.
“I respect everyone, but I’m not fearing anyone at the moment. So I’m just going out there and taking it to guys and see what happens… When I’m having fun I’m dangerous.”
Five games into the match, Medvedev spun a clean backhand pass down the line, scoring first-break blood for 3-2.
Though Tiafoe tried to take the net, his backhand volley let him down on a few occasions.
The 2021 US Open champion was carving up the American in longer baseline rallies. Medvedev ripped a full-stretch forehand return down teh line for set points. When Tiafoe sailed a forehand long, Medvedev snatched a one-set lead after 39 minutes of play.
Tiafoe was moving the ball around and drew successive backhand errors from Medvedev breaking to start the second set.
Applying his all-court acumen, Tiafoe stretched his lead. Dotting an ace, Tiafoe wrapped a love hold for 5-3.
Sliding the wide serve on the deuce side, Tiafoe drew a missed return to serve out the second set and force the 10-point super tiebreaker after 84 minutes of play.
A pair of running strikes from Tiafoe turned the tiebreaker around.
Even at 4-all, Tiafoe smacked a forehand pass down the line for the mini break. Two points later, Tiafoe torched a massive forehand strike for 7-4.
Tiafoe crunched a forehand return winner for 8-5 and closed a 95-minute conquest with a backhand pass down the line that a lunging Medvedev netted.
Laver Cup Results for Saturday, September 21
Team Europe 4, Team World 4
Match 6
Carlos Alcaraz (Europe) d. Ben Shelton (World) 6-4, 6-4
Match 5
Frances Tiafoe (World) d. Daniil Medvedev (Europe) 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
Laver Cup Results for Friday, September 20
Team World 2, Team Europe 2
Match 4
Taylor Fritz/Ben Shelton (World) d. Carlos Alcaraz/Alexander Zverev (Europe) 7-6(5), 6-4
Match 3
Grigor Dimitrov (Europe) d. Alejandro Tabilo (World) 7-6(4), 7-6(2)
Match 2
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Europe) d. Thanasi Kokkinakis (World) 6-1, 6-4
Match 1
Francisco Cerundolo (World) d. Casper Ruud (Europe) 6-4, 6-4