Laver Cup: Team world without a chance: Zverev transforms Europe’s first match ball

Laver Cup: Team world without a chance
Zverev transforms Europe’s first match ball

No Djokovic, no Federer, no Nadal – and yet Team Europe cannot be beaten at the Laver Cup. The selection led by the German Olympic tennis champion Alexander Zverev outclasses the World team. For Zverev it is the fourth title in the fourth edition.

Alexander Zverev, together with double partner Andrej Rublev, made the premature triumph of Team Europe at the Laver Cup of tennis professionals perfect. The German Olympic champion won against the Americans Reilly Opelka and Denis Shapovalov from Canada in a doubles match with the Russian in Boston 6: 2, 6: 7 (4: 7), 10: 3. The European selection thus led unmatched against Team Welt with 14: 1 and also won the title in the fourth edition of the comparison.

Zverev had already taken the decisive points at the Laver Cup in 2019, when he won the singles against Milos Raonic from Canada. In the previous year, the event was canceled due to the corona pandemic. On Saturday, the Europeans had won all four matches. Zverev won his individual against the American John Isner 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 7 (6: 8) and 10: 5. Previously, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas had defeated the Australian Nick Kyrgios 6: 3 and 6: 4.

In the evening session, US Open winner Daniil Medvedev from Russia swept Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6: 4, 6: 0 off the pitch in 75 minutes. At the end of the day, Tsitsipas and the Russian Andrej Rublev extended their team’s lead in doubles with a 6: 7 (8:10), 6: 3, 10: 4 against Isner and Kyrgios. The Europeans suffered the only defeat until victory on the opening day, Zverev lost with Matteo Berrettini from Italy in doubles against Isner and Shapovalov.

At the Laver Cup, both teams each consist of six professionals and one substitute. A win in the three singles and one doubles on Friday was worth one point, on Saturday there were two points per game and on Sunday three. With Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the three long-time superstars in the industry were missing this year due to injuries or exhaustion. All six European players are classified in the top 10 of the world rankings. The world selection supervised by John McEnroe was led by Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov (ATP-11th and -12th).

.
source site