Team World mounted a significant comeback at the Laver Cup, taking control of the competition with a commanding 8-4 lead over Team Europe after the conclusion of day two. The momentum swung in favor of Team World thanks to a dominant doubles victory by Ben Shelton and Alejandro Tabilo, who outplayed the formidable European duo of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-2.
The first set was a whirlwind of aggression from Team World, as they quickly established dominance, leaving little room for the European pair to gain any footing. The second set saw Team World gain an early break, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. Despite a couple of break chances, Team Europe couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities, ultimately handing John McEnroe’s team the two valuable points.
Earlier in the day, Shelton had faced a tough defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in singles, losing 6-4, 6-4. Alcaraz’s victory tied the overall score at 4-4 after American Frances Tiafoe’s thrilling comeback win against Daniil Medvedev in the opening clash. However, Shelton’s disappointment in singles was quickly overshadowed by his triumphant doubles performance.
“I love playing here, I love the format, singles and doubles. I couldn’t get it done in the singles but I wanted to come here tonight and redeemed myself,” Shelton expressed. “Alejandro put me on his back a little bit and we were able to get it done, so I’m really happy and thank you everyone for staying late.”
Prior to the doubles match, American Taylor Fritz further bolstered Team World’s lead with a convincing victory over German Alexander Zverev, winning 6-4, 7-5. Fritz displayed remarkable resilience, overcoming a 2-4 deficit in the second set to secure his third win over the world number two, solidifying his position as a key player for Team World.
The Laver Cup, a three-day team contest, is held at Berlin’s Uber Arena. Wins on the first day earn one point each, while victories on the second day are worth two points. The final day, Sunday, will see matches worth three points each, promising a thrilling climax to the competition.
