Alcaraz/Ruud give Team Europe life with Laver Cup doubles win
Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud changed the complexion of the Laver Cup with a much-needed doubles win for Team Europe to open Sunday’s action in San Francisco. After Team World swept Saturday’s play without dropping a set to lead 9-3, Alcaraz and Ruud cut the deficit to 9-6 in the first-to-13 event, with each Sunday match worth three points.
The Europeans earned a 7-6(4), 6-1 win against Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka, battling back from 1/4 in the first-set tie-break to take control. Alcaraz and Ruud did not face a break point in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats, but they needed 11 break points before finally breaking their opponents early in set two.
“We stayed really strong, really solid. We did what we had to do and I think that it worked pretty well,” Alcaraz said of their patience.
Two points defined the match. At 1/4 in the tie-break, Team World thought they came out on top in a thrilling exchange only to find that Michelsen’s reflex volley sailed just beyond the baseline. That started a run of six straight points to seal the set, followed by a run of five consecutive games in set two.
Midway through the second set, Alcaraz hit the shot of the match: a preposterous drop volley that left Michelsen stranded despite the American standing well inside the service line.
“Sometimes a lot of ideas come to my mind,” Alcaraz said of his shotmaking abilities. “I just enjoy making the choices. I think in that position it was the only shot or the best shot I could choose in that moment.”
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