Laver Cup Rewind: Carlos Alcaraz clinches fifth title for Team Europe

We're counting down to the Laver Cup in San Francisco—starting Friday, September 19—by looking back at memorable moments from past competitions. After Team Europe clawed back from the brink of defeat in 2024, Carlos Alcaraz sealed a winner-takes-all victory over Taylor Fritz to reclaim their title.

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

With Team Europe facing elimination at the 2024 Laver Cup, Carlos Alcaraz opened and closed the pivotal third day in signature style: winning under pressure, and doing so in entertaining style.

Led by Bjorn Borg, Team Europe entered the final day in Berlin trailing 4-8 after a disastrous Day 2 where Team World won three of four matches. Alcaraz was the lone bright spot, defeating Ben Shelton in two sets to keep his team alive.

They turned to him again as the stakes rose. Under the Laver Cup format, matches on Day 1 are worth one point, Day 2 are worth two, and Day 3 are worth three. That set up a dramatic Sunday finale, with Alcaraz playing both singles and doubles.

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

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

His decision to team up with a struggling Casper Ruud proved game-changing, as they edged Shelton and Frances Tiafoe to cut the deficit to 7-8. The Uber Arena erupted after two more matches: Shelton toppled Daniil Medvedev to extend Team World’s lead, then Alexander Zverev pulled off a gutsy rally to beat Tiafoe, who had been just two games away from clinching it all.

That left Team World clinging to an 11-10 lead heading into a winner-takes-all final showdown: Alcaraz vs. Fritz.

“I was nervous, I'm not gonna lie,” Alcaraz would tell press afterward. “After Sascha's match, he did a really good job. It was time for me to do my job.

“So it was kind of like I had to win. After that comeback, I have to win… I had nerves, I was a little bit nervous. I try not to show Taylor that I'm nervous.”

Fritz had arrived in Berlin on a high after his run to the US Open final, while Alcaraz was rebounding from a shock second-round exit in New York. Still, the Spaniard came out sharp, cruising through the first set and going up a break in the second, saving three break points to consolidate a 4-2 lead.

The American then roared back, taking the next three games to push the match to the edge of a decider. But in the biggest moments, his forehand faltered. A pair of errors from that wing handed Alcaraz a break and, soon after, championship points.

Alcaraz sealed a 6-2, 7-5 win with a booming unreturned serve, before teammates swarmed him on the famous gray court to celebrate Team Europe’s fifth Laver Cup crown since the event’s 2017 debut.

It marked Europe’s first title since 2021, ending Team World’s two-year streak and giving Borg a fitting sendoff. The Swedish legend closed his seven-year run as captain with a fifth victory.

“These guys, they play each other every week all over the world. (My job) is just to give them energy,” Borg reflected in his final press conference with the team. “They know exactly how to play, what they should do. But for me, as a captain, (I) give energy to these guys…

“It’s unbelievable. I'm very happy, because it's my last year Laver Cup, and for me to have this team, it's beautiful. Very nice.”

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

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)