Monday Digest: Alcaraz leads Europe to a Laver Cup win, China Open gets underway

In what was otherwise a relatively quiet week on the calendar, the seventh edition of the Laver Cup took centre stage in Berlin, pitting some of the world’s best men’s players against one another in another showdown of Europe vs. World.

While the invitational event is technically an exhibition which does not feature ranking points, it still serves to create an intense team competition, and marquee names drove the action once again this year.

Competing in his first Laver Cup, Europe’s squad was led by four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, who sought to return the trophy to the team, after World had snatched up titles in 2022 and 2023.

Alongside Alcaraz, recent French Open runner up Alexander Zverev, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, and three-time major finalist Casper Ruud highlighted a loaded roster.

World countered with a heavy American contingent – captained by the bombastic John McEnroe, the team leaned on Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton, while also welcoming on South American competitors Francisco Cerundolo and Alejandro Tabilo, and Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.

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The result was one of the most closely contested editions of the event in years. The teams were deadlocked after the opening Friday, as Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas notched singles wins for Europe, while Francisco Cerundolo earned a key singles win for Team World with a 6-4, 6-4 upset of Ruud. Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz also scored a point for World in doubles with a win over Alcaraz and Zverev.

Saturday was a showcase in American talent – for a third time this season, recent US Open finalist Taylor Fritz upset Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a decisive 6-4, 7-5 victory. Meanwhile, Tiafoe recorded a first career win over Medvedev, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 win.

Alcaraz scored the lone win of the day for the Europeans, ousting Shelton 6-4, 6-4.

Heading into the final day, World had a commanding 8-4 lead in points, needing two wins to seal a third consecutive trophy. They were in prime position after their big serving left-hander Shelton opened play with a 6-7, 7-5, 10-5 win over Medvedev. With their backs against the wall, Zverev, buoyed by the German crowd, stormed back to beat Tiafoe and keep Europe’s hopes alive.

Alcaraz and Ruud then paired up in doubles to earn a key win over Tiafoe and Shelton.

That set the stage for a dramatic finish with the 22-year-old Spanish superstar producing dazzling tennis to overwhelm Fritz 6-2, 7-5 in a winner-take-all singles rubber.

It was six-time major champion Bjorn Borg’s final time as Captain of Team Europe – Yannick Noah will take over the role next year, with the event set to be held in San Francisco.

Action in Beijing underway

After an electric summer hard court swing wrapped up at the US Open, the WTA has now made its move indoors, and the first marquee tournament is this week in Beijing.

The China Open is the first WTA1000 level event on the fall calendar, with main draw action set to begin Wednesday.

Though defending champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek has pulled out, three-time major winner Aryna Sabalenka headlines a star studded field that also features National Bank Open champion Jessica Pegula, 2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff, Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, and two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini.

Leylah Annie Fernandez is the lone Canadian in the singles draw, and seeded 20^th in the event, she receives an opening round bye. It’s just the second time competing at the event for the 22-year-old, who is again to set to represent her nation at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals later this Fall in Malaga.

Fernandez will meet the winner of upstart American Peyton Stearns and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the second round. Canadians Marina Stakusic and Carol Zhao both lost in qualifying.

Meanwhile, Félix Auger-Aliassime is in the field at the ATP’s Tokyo Open, a 500 level event. The 24-year-old will look to build off his Davis Cup momentum, after going a perfect 3-0 in singles for Canada in the Group Stage.

The Montreal native reached the quarterfinals in Tokyo last season. He’s set to play his opening round match against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.