Carlos Alcaraz/Casper Ruud earn early points for Europe on Laver Cup Day 3 | ATP Tour

Laver Cup

Alcaraz/Ruud earn crucial early points for Europe on Laver Cup Day 3

Team World leads 8-7, Shelton faces Medvedev next in Berlin

September 22, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz and a redemption-seeking Casper Ruud injected some early intrigue into the final day of Laver Cup action on Sunday in Berlin.

The duo overcame Team World’s Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 7-6(6) in a thrilling doubles encounter at Uber Arena to haul Team Europe close to parity at the teams event. Alcaraz and Ruud, the latter of whom had struggled in a heavy doubles defeat alongside Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday evening, prevailed after one hour, 40 minutes in an encounter packed with top-class shotmaking from all four players.

Closing the gap 💪

Team Europe: 7️⃣
Team World: 8️⃣@carlosalcaraz/@CasperRuud98 take down Shelton/Tiafoe 6-2 7-6(6).@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/GoxHMxj1ho

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 22, 2024

With three points available for each match win on Laver Cup Sunday, Team Europe now trails Team World 7-8. Europe captain Bjorn Borg will hope Daniil Medvedev can continue his team’s bid for a comeback triumph, one which would deny John McEnroe’s Team World a third consecutive Laver Cup title. The No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings Medvedev takes on Shelton in the opening singles match of the day.

“It was a bit humiliating last night. I felt like I’d never played doubles before and it was quite embarrassing, honestly,” said Ruud in his on-court interview. “So I went to bed. Carlos was eager to play. I don’t understand why, because what he saw yesterday was not the best, but I’m happy that he had faith in me.

“Carlos is such a great guy, so fun to play with, and he brought out the best in me today.”

One of the highlights of the match was a stunning angled touch volley from Alcaraz at 2-3, 30/0 in the second set. On-court interviewer Mark Petchey later replayed the shot for Alcaraz in the Spaniard’s on-court interview.

“I just tried to do that shot, and [once I did it], I felt so good, I’m not going to lie,” said Alcaraz. “In practice my coach Juan Carlos [Ferrero] used to say to me, ‘If you go to the net, [hit the ball to the baseline]’. I used to say, ‘I have to do it in practice in order to show it in the matches’. Maybe if he watches that shot, he won’t tell me that anymore.”