Fritz outlasts Zverev to clinch Laver Cup glory

The Chase Center thrummed with anticipation as Taylor Fritz stepped to the baseline, his serves cracking like thunder against the indoor hard courts. Facing Alexander Zverev in a match worth three points toward the first-to-13 finish line, the American seized control early, his 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory sealing Team World's third Laver Cup in four years. Zverev's towering presence loomed large, but Fritz's precise inside-out forehands and unyielding returns carved through the pressure, the crowd's cheers swelling with each point that tilted the scales from 12-9. Fritz's aggressive patterns disrupted Zverev's rhythm from the outset, the one–two combinations of serve and deep forehand forcing the German into defensive lurches. As the first set progressed, the American's footwork danced across the swift surface, exploiting low skids to pull his opponent wide and open angles for crosscourt winners. San Francisco's cool air sharpened the edges of every rally, turning the court into a stage where endurance met explosion. ### Fritz forges commanding opener The indoor hard favored Fritz's flat strikes, his serves clipping the lines to set up inside-in forehands that tested Zverev's backhand stance. He built the 6-3 lead through relentless pressure, absorbing occasional slices with quick redirects that kept the German off balance. This wasn't mere dominance; it was a psychological anchor, the bench's energy—led by captain Andre Agassi—fueling the 26-year-old's drive after a season etched with high-wire finishes. Zverev probed with deeper returns, but Fritz's underspin backhands stayed low, buying time to reset and counter with down-the-line precision. The set's tempo quickened, each hold amplifying the stakes as Team Europe's hopes flickered. By the end, the American had etched a blueprint for the night, his movement a quiet rebellion against the weight of expectation. ### Zverev surges but Fritz absorbs the storm As the second set unfolded, Zverev rediscovered his power, his looping groundstrokes landing with venom to extend rallies and force Fritz into hurried responses. The German saved break points with clever underspin, the ball hugging the court to disrupt the American's rhythm, pushing toward a tiebreaker where every error echoed louder. Fritz dialed in adjustments, shortening his backswing for sharper one–two punches and varying serves wide to the deuce side, neutralizing the comeback's momentum. Earlier, Carlos Alcaraz had stoked Europe's fire with a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Francisco Cerundolo, trimming the deficit and injecting urgency into the Sunday decider. Australia's Alex de Minaur had set the stage, his 6-3, 6-4 win over Jakub Mensik leaving Team World one victory from glory, built on the 26-year-old's weekend haul that included an earlier Zverev upset and a doubles triumph with Alex Michelsen. The tiebreaker became a crucible, Fritz's forehand winner at 7-6 (4) unleashing the arena's roar, a testament to poise forged in endless circuits. ### Agassi's team claims emotional release The clinching point sparked pandemonium, confetti swirling as the cup passed to Agassi in his debut captaincy, a nod to the legend's own storied battles. Fritz's seven points across the event symbolized more than stats—a release from the season's scars, where rivalries and recoveries had honed his steel. As the team gathered, the air thick with sweat and elation, he captured the bond that propelled them. With champagne waiting, the victory lingered like a promise, mending the grind's toll and priming Fritz for the hard-court chases ahead, where majors beckon under brighter lights.