BERLIN (AP) — American pair Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton edged Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in doubles to tie the Laver Cup after the first day Friday.
Alcaraz and Zverev, who faced each other in the French Open final three months ago, had a point for 5-4 in the second set but lost it and the game, and Fritz and Shelton served out to win 7-6 (5), 6-4.
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Team World's Alejandro Tabilo returns the ball during his singles tennis match against team Europe's Grigor Dimitrov on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team Europe's Grigor Dimitrov reacts during his singles tennis match against team World's Alejandro Tabilo on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas returns a ball during his singles tennis match against team World's Thanasi Kokkinakis on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team World's Ben Shelton, left, and Taylor Fritz confer during a doubles match against Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz, left, and Alexander Zverev slap hands during a doubles match against Team World's Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Former Tennis player Roger Federer, right, and the former soccer player, Bastian Schweinsteiger, left, attend the Opening Night of the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP)
Team Europe's Casper Ruud serves to team World's Francisco Cerundolo during his singles tennis match on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team Europe's Casper Ruud, bottom, plays against team World's Francisco Cerundolo on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo says goodbye to captain Björn Borg after winning his match against Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles Laver Cup tennis match at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Casper Ruud returns a ball to Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo during their men's singles Laver Cup tennis match at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo celebrates after winning against team Europe's Casper Ruud on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo returns during his singles tennis match against team Europe's Casper Ruud on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo tosses the ball for a serve to Europe's Casper Ruud during his singles tennis match on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
That left Team Europe and Team World at 2-2 with two more days to go in a format reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup.
Team World won the opening match when Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina topped Casper Ruud of Norway 6-4, 6-4.
Ruud, ranked No. 9, made 20 unforced errors and just 11 winners.
Cerundolo improved his record against Ruud to 4-3.
Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled Team Europe even by beating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4. Kokkinakis ousted Tsitsipas at the U.S. Open but Tsitsipas was far more comfortable indoors.
Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov then beat Chile's Alejandro Tabilo 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) after more than two hours.
Each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday. The first team to 13 points wins. The tournament ends on Sunday.
Earlier Friday, the Laver Cup and the ATP tour announced a five-year extension to their existing agreement.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Team World's Alejandro Tabilo returns the ball during his singles tennis match against team Europe's Grigor Dimitrov on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team Europe's Grigor Dimitrov reacts during his singles tennis match against team World's Alejandro Tabilo on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas returns a ball during his singles tennis match against team World's Thanasi Kokkinakis on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team World's Ben Shelton, left, and Taylor Fritz confer during a doubles match against Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz, left, and Alexander Zverev slap hands during a doubles match against Team World's Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Former Tennis player Roger Federer, right, and the former soccer player, Bastian Schweinsteiger, left, attend the Opening Night of the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP)
Team Europe's Casper Ruud serves to team World's Francisco Cerundolo during his singles tennis match on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team Europe's Casper Ruud, bottom, plays against team World's Francisco Cerundolo on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo says goodbye to captain Björn Borg after winning his match against Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles Laver Cup tennis match at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Casper Ruud returns a ball to Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo during their men's singles Laver Cup tennis match at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday Sept. 20, 2024. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo celebrates after winning against team Europe's Casper Ruud on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo returns during his singles tennis match against team Europe's Casper Ruud on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo tosses the ball for a serve to Europe's Casper Ruud during his singles tennis match on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
LONDON (AP) — A British teen pleaded guilty Monday to murdering three girls and attempting to kill 10 other people in what a prosecutor said was a “meticulously planned” stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, entered the surprise plea as jury selection had been expected to begin at the start of his trial in Liverpool Crown Court.
The July 29 stabbings sent shock waves across the U.K. and led to a week of widespread rioting across parts of England and Northern Ireland after the suspect was falsely identified as an asylum-seeker who had recently arrived in Britain by boat. He was born in Wales.
The attack occurred on the first day of summer vacation when the little girls at the Hart Space, a sanctuary hidden behind a row of houses, were in a class to learn yoga and dance to the songs of Taylor Swift. What was supposed to be a day of joy turned to terror and heartbreak when Rudakubana, armed with a knife, intruded and began stabbing the girls and their teacher in the seaside town of Southport in northwest England.
“This was an unspeakable attack — one which left an enduring mark on our community and the nation for its savagery and senselessness," Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Ursula Doyle said. “A day which should have been one of carefree innocence; of children enjoying a dance workshop and making friendship bracelets, became a scene of the darkest horror as Axel Rudakubana carried out his meticulously planned rampage.”
Prosecutors haven’t said what they believe led Rudakubana — who was days shy of his 18th birthday — to commit the atrocities, but Doyle said that it was clear he had a “a sickening and sustained interest in death and violence.”
Rudakubana had consistently refused to speak in court and did so once again when asked to identify himself at the start of the proceedings. But he broke his silence when he was read the 16-count indictment and asked to enter a plea, replying “guilty” to each charge.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and additional charges related to possessing the poison ricin and for having an al-Qaida manual.
Rudakubana faces life imprisonment when sentenced Thursday, Justice Julian Goose said.
Defense lawyer Stanley Reiz said that he would present information to the judge about Rudakubana's mental health that may be relevant to his sentence.
The surviving victims and family members of those killed were absent in court, because they had expected to arrive Tuesday for opening statements.
Goose asked the prosecutor to apologize on his behalf that they weren't present to hear Rudakubana plead guilty.
He pleaded guilty to murdering Alice Da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6.
Eight other girls, ranging in age from 7 to 13, were wounded, along with instructor Leanne Lucas and John Hayes, who worked in a business next door and intervened. Fifteen other girls, as young as 5, were at the class but uninjured. Under a court order, none of the surviving girls can be named.
Hayes, who was stabbed and seriously wounded, said he still had flashbacks to the attack and was “hugely upset at the time that I wasn’t able to do more.”
“But I did what I could in the circumstances,” he told Sky News. “I’m grateful to be here, and by all accounts I’ll make a full recovery, at least physically. … I’m going to be OK and others won’t be, and that’s really where I I think the focus of attention should be.”
Police said the stabbings weren’t classified as acts of terrorism because the motive wasn’t known.
Several months after his arrest at the scene of the crime, Rudakubana was charged with additional counts for production of a biological toxin, ricin and possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing to commit an act of terrorism for having the manual in a document on his computer.
Police said they found the evidence during a search of his family's home in a neighboring village.
The day after the killings — and shortly after a peaceful vigil for the victims — a violent group attacked a mosque near the crime scene and pelted police officers with bricks and bottles and set fire to police vehicles.
Rioting then spread to dozens of other towns over the next week when groups made up mostly of men mobilized by far-right activists on social media clashed with police during violent protests and attacked hotels housing migrants.
More than 1,200 people were arrested for the disorder and hundreds have been jailed for up to nine years in prison.
Media waits outside Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Axel Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana leaves Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
In this Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook, Southport stabbings suspect Axel Rudakubana appears on the first day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court, where he has pleaded guilty to killing three young girls and wounded 10 other people in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Elizabeth Cook/PA via AP)
People queue at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Axel Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
A prison van believed to contain Axel Rudakubana arrives at Liverpool Crown Court in Liverpool, England, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 where Rudakubana is charged with killing three girls and wounding 10 other people in a stabbing rampage at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in England last summer.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
FILE - Police officers watch members of the public outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)
FILE - Tributes are seen outside the Town Hall in Southport, England, Aug. 5, 2024 after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club the week before. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)