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We're counting down the days to the Laver Cup in San Francisco—starting Friday, September 19—by looking back at memorable moments from competitions past. On the way to Team Europe's Laver Cup comeback victory in 2024, Alexander Zverev denied Frances Tiafoe a hero's moment for the third year in a row.

Frances Tiafoe was integral to Team World's first two Laver Cup triumphs in 2022 and 2023 by delivering the clinching victory in the first title and six points in the second.

But Alexander Zverev, who also knows first-hand what it takes to guide a team to Laver Cup glory, assured that the American wouldn't have that euphoric moment for the third year in a row. A staggering comeback last fall in Berlin set the stage for a winner-take-all final match for the first time since 2019.

📲 🖥️ Stream the match in full on the Tennis Channel app

After Ben Shelton defeated Daniil Medvedev in a dramatic three-set affair, Team World found itself on the precipice of a third straight Cup with an 11-7 lead on the scoreboard. And when Tiafoe snuck a one-set lead against then-No. 2 Zverev, the German cut an increasingly frustrated figure. He got a code violation for ball abuse in the second set, and shortly after, trailed by a set and a break.

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INTERVIEW: Alexander Zverev talks Frances Tiafoe comeback at Laver Cup

As the crowd in Uber Arena found full voice in support of its man, Zverev's game rose to the occasion. The man who clinched the 2018 and 2019 Laver Cup titles broke back for 4-4, and converted his fourth set point later in the 12th game to chants of "Sascha" from the seats.

Despite battling sickness, Zverev was prepared to leave it all on the court, he said.

“It was a win or die tie for us and I knew that I had to put all my energy and effort in," Zverev said after the match, which was his eight career win in nine matches against Tiafoe.

“I had to fight for myself, for the team, for everybody in the stadium, and I’m glad that I came out with the win."

📲 🖥️ Watch the 2025 Laver Cup beginning Friday, September 19, on the Tennis Channel app

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Zverev's win set the stage for Carlos Alcaraz to finish off the furious Team Europe rally in the final match against Taylor Fritz, and the combination figures to be key for the blue squad again in San Francisco later this week.

Alcaraz and Zverev were the first two players picked by new captain Yannick Noah, and the German says every nomination has been "very special."

"You don’t want to disappoint your teammates," he said earlier this year. "You don’t want to disappoint some of the best players in the world because, as Team Europe, you kind of feel like you almost have to win every year.”

“I love being a part of it," he added. "Being together with some of the greatest players and being teammates with them, it’s very special.”

Read more: 13 Points: What you need to know about the 2025 Laver Cup

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Laver Cup Rewind

👉 Friday, September 12: Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Sock & Frances Tiafoe (2022)
👉 Sunday, September 14: Carlos Alcaraz & Casper Ruud vs. Ben Shelton & Frances Tiafoe (2024)
👉 Monday, September 15: Daniil Medvedev vs. Ben Shelton (2024)
👉 Tuesday, September 16: Alexander Zverev vs. Frances Tiafoe (2024)
👉 Wednesday, September 17: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Taylor Fritz (2024)