Team Europe lead 3-1 despite Fonseca’s dazzling Laver Cup debut

Team Europe will take a 3-1 lead into Day 2 of the Laver Cup after a dramatic opening day in San Francisco, highlighted by João Fonseca’s breakthrough victory for Team World and Carlos Alcaraz’s triumphant return to competition.

The 19-year-old Fonseca, the youngest player in the history of the event, flipped the energy inside Chase Center when he rallied past Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 6-3.

The Brazilian surged from 2-4 down in the opening set, reeling off five consecutive games and seven of the next eight to claim a stylish debut win that briefly reignited Team World’s hopes.

“I think my team helped me a lot, to stay positive during the match,” Fonseca said. “I was a little bit more nervous than usual. It’s normal. And then after I started talking a little bit more with Andre [Agassi] and the team… I was playing good in the beginning, but I was still a little bit nervous and making a lot of mistakes, but after I got through so I’m very happy with that.”

With Roger Federer watching from the stands and the crowd chanting his name, Fonseca gave Agassi’s team its first point of the competition and ensured Team World would not head into the night session empty-handed.

But the momentum did not last. Alcaraz, playing his first match since winning the US Open and reclaiming the No. 1 ranking, partnered Jakub Mensik in doubles to blunt Team World’s charge.

The Spanish-Czech pairing delivered a composed 7-6(7), 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen, never facing a break point and saving one set point in a tense first-set tiebreak.

“I think doubles, it gives you more opportunities to make great shots, great volleys,” Alcaraz said afterward. “But doubles is not just about one player.

You have to team up with a great player like I did today with Jakub. Thanks to him with his great shots, great skills on the volleys as well, he made me feel comfortable on the court.”

The doubles victory capped a perfect debut day for Mensik, who had earlier beaten Michelsen in singles to open the competition. That consistency proved decisive in giving Europe the cushion of a two-point advantage heading into Saturday.

For Team World, Fonseca’s electric shotmaking was a much-needed jolt, but history is not on their side: since the tournament’s inception in 2017, no team has overturned a 3-1 deficit after Day 1.

With Europe’s depth and Alcaraz looking sharp, Agassi’s squad will need more than flashes of brilliance to claw back into contention.

Play resumes Saturday at 1 p.m. local time.