Alexander Zverev defeats Frances Tiafoe to keep Laver Cup hopes alive
By Lee Vowell
There are a number of reasons why Alexander Zverev is a better player than Frances Tiafoe but one important difference is the in-point decision-making that occurs. Carlos Alcaraz has the same issue that Tiafoe has, but Alcaraz is also able to make shots that mere mortals are not able to make. Tiafoe is an excellent player, but he isn't Alcaraz. Nor is he Zverev.
Tiafoe win the first set by playing coolly, calmly, and collectively, and not overdoing shots. Zverev, on the other hand, was missing a few shots he normally would not. He hit the ball long a few more times, even though he was chasing down nearly everything Tiafoe hit his way. It still took a tie-break for the American to take the first set at the 2024 Laver Cup.
Team World was just a win away from winning the event. Now, due to Zverev's win, the tournament will be decided by who wins between Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz. Possibly, this is the way the event should be with the final match deciding who wins and who loses, but the truth is Tiafoe could have won the match.
Alexander Zverev forces the Laver Cup into a deciding match by defeating Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe was a break up in the second set and appeared on his way to clinch the Laver Cup victory for Team World, but then Zverev finally began to play his usual metronomic tennis and Tiafoe began to overthink. The magical shot does not always work.
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For instance, when Zverev was caught out of position at times, Tiafoe chose a lower-percentage shot such as a cross-court overhead instead of hitting it down the line.
Tiafoe still played well, but Zverev is not No. 2 on the ATP tour for no reason. He normally does not defeat himself while Tiafoe oftentimes sadly does. Both a good players and both will win future titles, but Tiafoe's need to hit harder shots will keep him from ever reaching the top five on the ATP tour while Zverev's ability to play each point will keep him ranked high and win more titles than Tiafoe.
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