Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud changed the complexion of the Laver Cup with a much needed double win for Team Europe to open Sunday’s action in San Francisco. After Team World had swept the game on Saturday without dropping a set to lead 9-3, Alcaraz and Ruud lowered the shortage to 9-6 in the first to 13 event, with three points every Sunday competition worth three points.
The Europeans achieved a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory against Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka, who moan back from 1/4 in the first set of-break to take control. Alcaraz and Ruud were not in front of a breaking point in the match, according to Infosys ATP statistics, but they needed 11 breaking points before they finally break their opponents early in set.
“We remained really strong, really solid. We did what we had to do and I think it worked pretty well,” said Alcaraz about their patience.
Two points defined the game. On 1/4 in the Tie-Break, Team World thought they were at the top of an exciting exchange to discover that Michelsen’s Reflex Volley was just sailing past the basic line. That started a point of six straight points to seal the set, followed by a series of five consecutive games in set two.
Halfway through the second set, Alcaraz hit the shot of the game: a ridiculous drop -volley that Michelsen showed despite the American who was in the service line well.
“Sometimes many ideas come to mind,” Alcaraz said about his shot options. “I just enjoy making the choices. I think it was the only shot or the best recording I could choose at that time.”
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