Laver Cup/ Taylor Fritz/ Ben Shelton/ Carlos Alcaraz/ Alexander Zverev/ tennis/ Team World/ Team Europe/ Newslooks/ BERLIN/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton secured a 7-6 (5), 6-4 doubles win over Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, tying the Laver Cup at 2-2 after the first day of competition. Earlier, Team World’s Francisco Cerundolo defeated Casper Ruud, while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov earned wins for Team Europe.
Fritz and Shelton Win Doubles to Tie Laver Cup Quick Looks:
- Fritz and Shelton beat Alcaraz and Zverev 7-6 (5), 6-4 to tie Laver Cup at 2-2.
- Team World’s Francisco Cerundolo won the opening match against Casper Ruud.
- Team Europe pulled even with wins by Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov.
- Laver Cup continues with two more days of competition.
Fritz & Shelton’s Doubles Victory Ties Laver Cup at 2-2 After Day 1
Deep Look:
The Laver Cup’s first day ended in a 2-2 tie after American duo Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton edged Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in a tense doubles match on Friday. The Team World pair triumphed 7-6 (5), 6-4, ensuring the competition remains evenly balanced as it heads into the weekend.
Alcaraz and Zverev, who faced each other in the French Open final earlier this year, came close to taking control of the second set but missed a key break point. Fritz and Shelton seized the opportunity and served out to win, tying the overall score at 2-2 in this Ryder Cup-style tournament.
Early Matches Set the Stage
Team World initially took the lead when Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4. Cerundolo’s solid play improved his head-to-head record against the world No. 9 to 4-3. Ruud, struggling with consistency, made 20 unforced errors compared to just 11 winners.
Stefanos Tsitsipas then brought Team Europe back into contention by defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas, who had been upset by Kokkinakis at the U.S. Open, looked much more comfortable indoors.
Grigor Dimitrov gave Team Europe its second point, overcoming Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in a hard-fought match. Dimitrov won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) after more than two hours on the court.
Points System and Weekend Outlook
Each match win on Friday was worth one point, with points increasing to two on Saturday and three on Sunday. The first team to 13 points will claim the Laver Cup title, with plenty of action still to come over the next two days.
The tournament also announced a five-year extension to its partnership with the ATP tour, ensuring the Laver Cup remains a key event in professional tennis.
