Alcaraz shines in doubles duel as Europe take 3-1 Laver Cup lead on first day

[p]The world number three, playing in only his second event since a four-month injury lay-off, impressed the watching Rod Laver and Roger Federer as he and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Mensik[/a] defeated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bublik-alexander/t0WN9vR6/"]Alexander Bublik[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fritz-taylor/UH09iaZ6/"]Taylor Fritz[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/alcaraz-garfia-c-UkhgIFEq/mensik-j-UFj257G8/?mid=GrlWiizh"]6-4, 6-4[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a] plans to play fewer events going forward, blaming an "impossible" tennis calendar for a rising number of injuries in the sport.[/p][p]But the seven-time Grand Slam champion said before the competition that his "love" for team events helps him [b]"bring my joy back on the court, bring my joy back on playing tennis."[/b][/p][p]He and Mensik were all smiles as just one break of serve sufficed in each set to earn an opening-day lead.[/p][embed guid="702b8857-7082-44d1-bdd9-df196ab85622" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQB2Q3Lq-70" social-type="youtube" /][p]Alcaraz and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a], the reigning French and US Open champion, were both kept in reserve by European captain Yannick Noah earlier on Friday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a] earned the first point of the tournament by edging out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-francisco/lWQ3G6gB/"]Francisco Cerundolo[/a] 10-8 in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cerundolo-f-lWQ3G6gB/ruud-c-zN9UpRqp/?mid=4ljiuEjn"]a deciding tie-break[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nakashima-brandon/ETGnbrpH/"]Brandon Nakashima[/a] responded for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/world-laver-cup/C29ghPpq/"]Team World[/a], also [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/mensik-j-UFj257G8/nakashima-b-ETGnbrpH/?mid=Kvc7yWkB"]edging out Mensik[/a] in a tie-break after the first two sets were shared.[/p][p]Rising Spanish star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a] was more convincing on his Laver Cup debut with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/bublik-a-t0WN9vR6/jodar-r-OdngshVK/?mid=hheFZ9KN"]a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bublik[/a].[/p][embed guid="72663403-7883-4ad3-b193-ee77612fac56" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odd9fHGN0Zw" social-type="youtube" /][p]The first side to 13 points will be crowned winners of the three-day event at London's O2.[/p][p][b]Each match is worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday.[/b][/p]