Alcaraz’s match was the longest and best of the weekend and a rematch with the match Fritz won last year in San Francisco en route to winning the World Team Cup. The American took the second set this time and served two points in the backer, and Alcaraz opened the score at 13-11.
“I wasn’t surprised at Taylor’s level. I think we both played great tennis,” he said. “The ball speed, the intensity with which we were hitting the ball in every way was really, really high. I think this pitch, these balls are quite suitable for long rallies, to have more time to get a good position and hit the ball in the right spot on the racket. I think it’s great for the fans.”
What turned it around at its own expense was the bench, and Rood in particular. “He was telling me that I needed to be more relaxed on the outside because they were really good at rallying, and sometimes on the court I feel really stressed, that sometimes I have to play too much and keep hitting big shots that I don’t need to,” Alcaraz said.
“He came over to the bench and told me that they were seeing the game completely differently than I was and told me I had to be more positive because I was better than him, had better shots, so I had to play smart, not overplay and try to get into a rhythm.
They remind me that it’s not a singles game. I play for my team
“It’s great because they remind me that it’s not a single game, I’m playing for my team, I’m playing for them too,” he added. “Sometimes seeing them in those really stressful situations helps me stay calm and think about what I need to do.”
He was concerned with the timing of two points, like tennis. “I’m really happy for them to get the win because I think it was really important, seeing how the day went. This important win helps the team a lot in terms of confidence and obviously for the excitement of every match, for the double and I would say for tomorrow’s match.”
Doubles bored him. Rudd, playing his second match of the day, matched up with Zverev, whose afternoon ended with de Minaur’s defeat, and they both beat Bublik and Nakashima 6-4, 7-6 (7) to take their fourth tiebreak of the day to give Europe a lead they will carry into Sunday.
Sunday’s matches are worth three points each and 13 points win the cup, leaving Team Europe six more and Team World eight.
LAVER CUP 2026, Day 1 results
- Casper Rudd (EURO) bt Francisco Cherundolo (WLD) 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-8
- Brandon Nakashima (WLD) beat Jakub Mensik (EURO) 6-1, 3-6, 10-7
- Rafael Zhodar (EURO) vs Alexander BUBLIK (WLD) 6-2, 6-3
- Carlos ALCARAZ / Jakub MENSIC (EURO) bt Alexander BUBLIC / Taylor FRITZ (WLD) 6-4, 6-4
- Europe 3, Team World 1 (each match is worth 1 point)
LAVER CUP 2026, Day 2 results
- Learner TIEN (WLD) bt Flavio COBOLLI (EUR) 6-3, 2-6, 10-7
- Alex DE MINAUR (WLD) bt Alexander ZVEREV (EURO) 2-6, 7-6 (7), 11-9
- Carlos Alcaraz (EURO) def Taylor FRITZ (WLD) 6-3, 4-6, 13-11
- Casper Rudd / Alexander ZVEREV (EURO) bt Alexander BUBLIK / Brandon Nakashima (WLD) 6-4, 7-6 (7)
- Team Europe 7, Team World 5 (each match is worth 2 points)
L:AVER CUP 2026, match order of day 3, from 12:00 p.m
- Flavio Cobolli / Jakub Mensik (EURO) vs Alex De Minaur / Taylor Fritz (WLD)
- Alexander ZVEREV (EUR) vs Learner TIEN (WLD)
- Carlos Alcaraz (EURO) vs Alex DE MINAUR (WLD)
- Rafael Jodar (Euro) vs Taylor Fritz (WLD)
