Big celebrations from “Team World” after Frances Tiafoe’s victory over Stefanos Tsitipas (in the background). © ANSA / ANDY RAIN
Captain John McEnroe’s “Team World” lived up to its role as favorite for the time being on Friday, the first day of the sixth edition of the Laver Cup in Vancouver. The hosts lead 4-0 after the first three singles and a doubles, the “Team Europe”, which was not as strong as usual, only managed to win a set in the doubles.
23. September 2023
From: apa
US Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton (USA) opened in front of the co-founder of this team competition, Roger Federer, with 7:6 (4), 6:1 against Arthur Fils (FRA). Afterwards, the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo also prevailed against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina from Spain with 6:3,7:5. In the third singles of the first of three days in the Rogers Arena, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime also gave France’s Gael Monfils no chance at 6:4,6:3. Finally, the US doubles Frances Tiafoe/Tommy Paul prevailed against the Russians Andrei Rublew and Fils with 6:3,4:6,10:6.
Team Europe plays without the retired Federer, the injured Rafael Nadal and also without Novak Djokovic. Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner from the old continent are also missing. Rublew is the only top ten player at the start. Nevertheless, a 0-4 deficit in the Laver Cup doesn’t mean anything, because the team that first has 13 points wins on Sunday. On the first day there is one point per win, on Saturday two and on Sunday three. Last year, the world team achieved its first victory with three wins over Djokovic and Tsitispas, among others.
Federer is the big star
The big star was once again Roger Federer, who a year later conducted an interview with Jim Courier on the court. “I live a really intense, wonderful life now,” said the 42-year-old Swiss, who showed in a few training shots before the tournament that he still has a good grip on the ball on the racket. “Of course I miss tennis. “I miss everything about the game itself, the defended break points, the winning match points, holding up trophies and walking past fans and taking selfies,” Federer admitted. However, he experiences the latter again and again, most recently during his visits to Halle and Wimbledon.
Roger Federer is the big star at Laver Cup. © ANSA / ANDY RAIN
“But it was wonderful to be at home again. Spending time with friends and family was incredible.” On the other hand, he misses many places he used to travel to regularly. “But you can’t have everything. I had it for 25 years and I would do it the same way again,” said the 20-time major winner.
Federer also said that tennis will always appear on his schedule. “I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t be a stranger on the tour. I’ll keep coming back, not all the time, but from time to time.”
2023-09-23 10:39:10
#Laver #Cup #Replacement #weakened #Team #Europe #Tennis
