Alcaraz downs Fritz as Team World take 7-5 lead in Laver Cup

LONDON, Sept 26 : Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz saved two match points before beating Taylor Fritz in the Laver Cup after Team World's Alex de Minaur rallied from a first-set stumble to stun world No. 2 Alexander Zverev as the Europeans ended Saturday 7-5 ahead.

Learner Tien prevailed over Flavio Cobolli in a nervous tiebreak as Team World established a 5-3 advantage but after Alcaraz won, Zverev and Casper Ruud defeated Alexander Bublik and Brandon Nakashima to give Team Europe the overnight lead.

World No. 3 Alcaraz fought off Fritz to win 6-3 4-6 13-11 and claim his first win over a top-10 rival since the Australian Open final as he competes in only his second tournament after the US Open following a four-month injury layoff.

Alcaraz faced match points at 10-9 and 11-10 in the match tiebreak but the 23-year-old Spaniard saved the first with an ace and the second with a drop shot. Alcaraz finally won the contest on his third match point with another drop shot.

Alcaraz had lost to American Fritz in last year's Laver Cup as Team World stormed to victory in San Francisco so Saturday's victory was a measure of revenge.

“I was thinking a little bit about last year,” said Alcaraz. “I was trying not to let it happen again. I was kind of nervous in the beginning, I’m not going to lie, but I’m really happy I took it in the end.”

DE MINAUR PREVAILS AGAINST ZVEREV

Earlier on Saturday, French and US Open champion Zverev lost to de Minaur 2-6 7-6(5) 11-9, after American Tien beat Cobolli 6-3 2-6 10-7, allowing Team World to wipe out Europe's 3-1 overnight lead before Team Europe battled back.

With two points on offer for each match win on the second day in a race to 13 points for the championship, De Minaur made the most of the opportunity