Carlos Alcaraz will play in the quarter-final of the Cincinnati Masters. While focusing on the current event and the upcoming US Open, the Spaniard is already thinking about the Laver Cup.
World no. 2 will lead Team Europe at the eighth edition of the Laver Cup in San Francisco between September19-21. Carlos will try to bring the sixth title for the blue squad at the Chase Center.
His teammates will be Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune and Casper Ruud, with two more players yet to be announced. Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz and Joao Fonseca will challenge them.
Speaking about the Laver Cup, Alcaraz expressed his love for the event, admitting he will give his best to keep the title in Europe. The young Spaniard made his debut in Berlin last year.
He competed on the first day alongside Alexander Zverev. They fell to Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton 7-6, 6-4. The next day, Carlos and Ben met in the second singles match.
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The Spaniard earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory in an hour and 43 minutes, locking the overall score at 4-4. Shelton saved nine of 11 break points. However, it was not enough to keep him in contention, with Alcaraz defending all five break points.
The Spaniard seized the sixth break point at 3-3 in the opening set and saved a break point in the next one for 5-3. Carlos wasted two set points on the return in game nine before holding at love at 5-4 to wrap up the first part of the duel.
Ben netted a forehand in the first game of the second set to fall a set and a break behind. Alcaraz saved a break point in game two and served well in the remaining ones.
The Spaniard served for the win at 5-4 and landed a serve & volley combo on a match point, sealing the deal and earning his first Laver Cup victory. However, Team World led 8-4 after the second day.
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Carlos joined forces with Casper Ruud at the beginning of the third day. They bested Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton 6-2, 7-6, reducing the overall deficit to 8-7.
In the third match, Alexander Zverev prevailed over Frances Tiafoe, keeping Team Europe alive ahead of the decisive clash between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. The Spaniard notched a 6-2, 7-5 victory to bring the trophy for Team Europe.
Carlos led 6-4, 4-2 before Taylor bounced back and made the duel more interesting. However, the better-ranked player delivered a late break and clinched the title for the blue squad on his serve at 6-5.
"I will try to bring positive energy to the team. I want to help Team Europe defend the Laver Cup. I love that tournament, and being teammates with players who are usually rivals is something very special.
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I will give my best, and I'm very excited about the event," Carlos Alcaraz said.
