Carlos stems the tide, Europe trails 9-12

World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz stepped onto the black court at Chase Center on Sunday with a clear mission: win both his matches and keep Team Europe’s Laver Cup hopes alive.

The 22-year-old Spaniard delivered right from the start, teaming with Casper Ruud in the opening doubles to notch a vital win— echoing their Sunday heroics from Berlin. But after Alex de Minaur demolished Jakub Mensik in Match 10 to push Team World within a single point of the trophy, Alcaraz faced a must-win singles showdown against Francisco Cerundolo, himself undefeated in Laver Cup competition.

And he rose to the moment. In little more than an hour, Alcaraz barely flinched in a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory that steadied Europe’s campaign and kept the scoreboard within reach.

Cerundolo had his chances, but each time he threatened to gain ground, Alcaraz conjured an answer: an unreturnable serve, a disguised drop shot, or a forehand whipped at an impossible angle. It was the Spaniard’s fourth career win over the Argentine —and by far the most decisive—banishing memories of his loss to Taylor Fritz on Saturday.

Alcaraz admitted he was low on practice then; today, the rust was gone, the rhythm back. A stat flashed on the big screen summed it up: Alcaraz has a 98% chance of winning the set after breaking early. He did, in both sets repeatedly, sealing the match with ruthless efficiency.

Now, all eyes shift to Alexander Zverev, the man who has so often been Europe’s anchor in past editions. Should he topple Fritz in Match 12, the scoreboard would lock at 12–12—the first tie in Laver Cup history—and force a one-set, high-stakes Decider. Any pairing from either team could take the court, promising an unforgettable finish in San Francisco.