San Francisco (United States) (AFP) – World number one Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his US Open triumph at Flushing Meadows, eased into the Laver Cup on Friday with a doubles victory that pushed Europe’s lead to 3-1 over Team World after the opening day of the global tennis event. Spain’s Alcaraz and Czech Jakub Mensik defeated Team World’s US duo of Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 in the day’s closing doubles. It was Mensik’s second victory of the day, after a 6-1, 6-7 (3/7) 10-8 singles victory over Michelsen. The Czech was broken as he served for the match in the ninth game of the second set. But after dropping the second-set tiebreaker to Michelsen, he regrouped to win the 10-point match tiebreaker.
“It’s always tough for your nerves but I’m happy that I stay focused to the end,” Mensik, 20, said. Norway’s Casper Ruud got Europe off the mark with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over big-serving American Reilly Opelka in the opening match at the Chase Center, home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. “I was in the same position last year and lost the opening match, so it’s good to get some revenge and begin strong for Europe,” Ruud said.
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Laver Cup newcomer Joao Fonseca put a point on the board for Team World with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Europe’s Flavio Cobolli. The 19-year-old Brazilian rallied from 2-4 down in the first set and broke twice in the second to claim the victory with a large contingent of Brazilian fans cheering him on. “I tried to stay positive during the match,” said Fonseca, who won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires this year. “I was a little bit more nervous than usual, which is normal.”
Europe have won five of the first seven editions of the event, although Team World triumphed the last time the competition co-created by Swiss great Roger Federer was held in North America, in Vancouver in 2023. There have been a few changes since Alcaraz sealed Europe’s win in Berlin last year. France’s Yannick Noah has taken over from Bjorn Borg as captain of Team Europe while American Andre Agassi is the new captain of Team World, succeeding John McEnroe.
Friday’s matches were worth one point apiece. Saturday’s schedule also features three singles and one doubles match, all worth two points apiece. Sunday’s schedule opens with doubles, followed by three singles, and all worth three points. The first team to reach 13 points claims the cup.
© 2024 AFP
