3-5: Revolcón to Zverev and Europe in the Laver Cup, turn and work for Alcaraz
With admirable faith and the fastest legs on the circuit, the Australian Alex De Minaurworld No. 9, has sensationally come back from his match against the German Alexander Zverev -2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9- and the Rest of the World has turned the score (3-5) after Friday’s 3-1 in favor of the European team.
The uniqueness of the Laver Cup is behind this marker in the O2 Arena London: Each victory is worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday, an essentially unfair format, but designed to maintain uncertainty about the final champion until the last day in a tournament that is still an exhibition open to this type of ideas.
The American Learner Tien equalized the series (3-3) by beating the Italian in the first match on Saturday Flavio Cobolli (6-3, 2-6, 10-7) and another tiebreaker super tiebreak has decided the victory of De Minaur in view of Zverevwho at 9-10 wasted a ‘match-ball’ by throwing out a soft cut forehand.
The unexpected defeat of ‘Sasha’world No. 2, gives extra work to another European leader like Carlos Alcaraz (3rd), who will open the afternoon session facing the North American Taylor Fritz (10th) with 5-1 in their favor in their private duels. Zverev-Ruud against Bublik-Nakashima It is double the amount expected at the end of the day.
The slow court of the O2 Arena equalized the forces between a great server like Zverev and De Miñaur, a tennis player who defends like few others and who is building an enviable track record without having definitive hits like other teammates in the world top-10, a reality that enhances the value of his victories. Running, of course, few or no one beats him, one of the virtues that illuminate many of his successes.
However, the German controlled the match and, with 2-6 and 4-5, served to win. However, some ghost from the past appeared there, he made two double faults, gave up his serve (5-5) and emboldened De Minaur who moves in shifting lands with a special art.
The exhibition and fun component of the Laver Cup It is diluted when the players watch the outcome and the tension increases on the field. The competition and the tennis players then become serious and strive hard for victory as if it were the ATP circuit.
Nobody likes to lose, least of all Zverev already two-time champion of Grand Slam (Roland Garros, US Open) and firm candidate for No. 1 in 2026 after injuries to Alcarazback, and Jannik Sinnerstill low.
Be that as it may, the German got tangled up in his own doubts and De Minaur took advantage of it to win the tiebreak of the second set and the super tiebreak of the third and achieve his fourth victory in 12 matches against Zverev, yes, all in secondary tournaments, ATP Cup 2020, United Cup 2024 and two in the Laver Cup (2025, 2026). The Australian is a total ‘Laver Cup man’: four singles matches, four wins and 1-1 in doubles in three appearances.
After Zverev’s debut, Alcaraz also debuts this afternoon in singles against Taylor Fritz after winning double yesterday with Jakub Mensik., before Fritz himself and Alexander Bublik.
It is the reappearance of the Murcian after his defeat against Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals of the US Open, where he reappeared at a high level after almost five months out due to a wrist injury.
