-Geneva, Switzerland
Team Europe is in a familiar spot after Saturday’s play at the Laver Cup but the event is certainly nowhere close to being locked up just yet. Thanks to hometown hero Roger Federer and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, the Euro squad leads Team World 7-5 heading into Sunday’s final day.
Europe led after Saturday at both previous Laver Cups in 2017 & 2018. The score heading into Sunday was the same last year in Chicago.
In the first match of the night session, Nadal continued his fine play from the summer defeating a rusty Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-6. The reigning US Open champion has now won 29 of his last 30 matches. The only loss coming to Federer in the Wimbledon Semi-Finals.
The Canadian started off well mustering up eight break point chances in Nadal’s first three service games. Only problem, he wasn’t able to convert any. Nadal hit some blistering forehands throughout the match including several down the line for winners and his traditional fist pumps were widely on display.
Raonic, who’s dropped to No. 24 in the World, made 28 unforced errors in the match and his net play which has been one of his strengths was shaky on the dark Laver Cup court. He won just 20 of 39 points at the net.
Raonic also admitted after the match his absence from the tour was because of a torn left glute. In fact he tore the same glute twice, once in Montreal and once the week before the US Open.
In Saturday’s doubles finale, the team of American Jack Sock and partner Nick Kyrgios stayed undefeated as a duo all-time in Laver Cup play (3-0) knocking out Nadal and Stefanos Tsitispas 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. It was a big win for Team World who would have been down 9-3 instead of 7-5 heading into Sunday.
During the day session Federer gave his team the lead after a thrilling come from behind victory over Kyrgios 6-7, 7-5, 10-7. Both players played some high level tennis with just a few points separating the two players.
Kyrgios fired 14 aces in the match and lost just eight points on his first serve. Federer’s serve was on the mark as well firing at 67-percent for his first serve percentage.
Federer was in some trouble in the second set but managed to get out of a couple of jams. At 5-5 he forced Kyrgios to win three straight points before breaking him to go up 6-5. He followed that up with a solid service game giving him the middle set.
The crowd obviously in favour of the 20-time Grand Slam winner was electric and made for a fantastic atmosphere. Federer afterwards saying it was louder in the crowd than any ATP Tour event he can remember. The emotion of the match did get to Kyrgios at one point as he threw down his racquet in disgust going down 4-2 in the third set super tiebreak.
“He played well. I’m not gonna sit here and just continually say he’s the best, he’s the best, the best” said a dejected Kyrgios.”Yeah he’s good at tennis, he played unbelievable he was way too good for me today.”
In the first match of the day, John Isner and Alexander Zverev battled it out with the American coming away with a 6-7, 6-4, 10-1 victory. Both players also served well including 14 aces from Isner. The World No. 20, who had just one win in seven previous meetings with the German including a loss at last years Laver Cup in Chicago, roared with jubilation after securing the victory. The super tiebreak score was the most lopsided in the events history.
On Sunday, each match win will be worth 3 points starting with Doubles beginning at Noon local time. “Fedal” will reunite as Federer and Nadal take on Isner & Sock in the opening contest. The World No. 2 & No. 3 players played just once before that coming at the 2017 Laver Cup in Prague. They defeated Sock & Sam Querrey at that event.
That will be followed by the first singles match of the day featuring the highly anticipated Nadal vs Kyrgios matchup. Their first meeting since the Australian won in Acapulco. Federer vs Isner would be the third singles match followed by Zverev vs Raonic if necessary.
@Sportshorn
