At the start of the fifth edition of the Laver Cup, Team Europe lived up to its role as favorite against Team World. Before Roger Federer’s farewell performance in the evening, Casper Ruud (ATP 2) won the first single against Jack Sock (ATP 128) 6: 4, 5: 7, 10: 7 in a match tiebreak.
After a strong first set, the Norwegian Ruud gave up briefly, lost the second round and fell 3-0 down to ten points in the short decision.
But then the favorite from Team Europe recovered – among other things with a tweener praise for 3:3, a spectacle could not be missing – and decided the game against the Americans 6:4, 5:7, 10:7 itself.
In the second individual duel, Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 6) gave Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman (ATP 17) no chance. The Greek played fast and won comfortably 6:2, 6:1.
De Minaur wrestles Murray down
So Team World was already in dire straits. The situation became even more complicated in the third individual. Andy Murray (ATP 43) got the starting set in a thrilling game against Australian Alex de Minaur (ATP 22). The ailing Scot could not quite keep up the level, but showed a big fighting spirit. De Minaur forced the match tiebreak and after 2:28 hours made the 5: 7, 6: 3, 10: 7 victory perfect.