In what was in any other case a comparatively quiet week on the calendar, the seventh version of the Laver Cup took centre stage in Berlin, pitting among the world’s finest males’s gamers towards each other in one other showdown of Europe vs. World.
Whereas the invitational occasion is technically an exhibition which doesn’t function rating factors, it nonetheless serves to create an intense group competitors, and marquee names drove the motion as soon as once more this yr.
Competing in his first Laver Cup, Europe’s squad was led by four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, who sought to return the trophy to the group, after World had snatched up titles in 2022 and 2023.
Alongside Alcaraz, current French Open runner up Alexander Zverev, 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, and three-time main finalist Casper Ruud highlighted a loaded roster.
World countered with a heavy American contingent – captained by the bombastic John McEnroe, the group leaned on Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton, whereas additionally welcoming on South American opponents Francisco Cerundolo and Alejandro Tabilo, and Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis.
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The outcome was some of the carefully contested editions of the occasion in years. The groups had been deadlocked after the opening Friday, as Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas notched singles wins for Europe, whereas Francisco Cerundolo earned a key singles win for Group World with a 6-4, 6-4 upset of Ruud. Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz additionally scored some extent for World in doubles with a win over Alcaraz and Zverev.
Saturday was a showcase in American expertise – for a 3rd time this season, current US Open finalist Taylor Fritz upset Germany’s Alexander Zverev with a decisive 6-4, 7-5 victory. In the meantime, Tiafoe recorded a primary profession win over Medvedev, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 win.
Alcaraz scored the lone win of the day for the Europeans, ousting Shelton 6-4, 6-4.
Heading into the ultimate day, World had a commanding 8-4 lead in factors, needing two wins to seal a 3rd consecutive trophy. They had been in prime place after their massive serving left-hander Shelton opened play with a 6-7, 7-5, 10-5 win over Medvedev. With their backs towards the wall, Zverev, buoyed by the German crowd, stormed again to beat Tiafoe and hold Europe’s hopes alive.
Alcaraz and Ruud then paired up in doubles to earn a key win over Tiafoe and Shelton.
That set the stage for a dramatic end with the 22-year-old Spanish celebrity producing dazzling tennis to overwhelm Fritz 6-2, 7-5 in a winner-take-all singles rubber.
It was six-time main champion Bjorn Borg’s last time as Captain of Group Europe – Yannick Noah will take over the function subsequent yr, with the occasion set to be held in San Francisco.
Motion in Beijing underway
After an electrical summer time exhausting courtroom swing wrapped up on the US Open, the WTA has now made its transfer indoors, and the primary marquee match is that this week in Beijing.
The China Open is the primary WTA1000 degree occasion on the autumn calendar, with important draw motion set to start Wednesday.
Although defending champion and world No. 1 Iga Swiatek has pulled out, three-time main winner Aryna Sabalenka headlines a star studded area that additionally options Nationwide Financial institution Open champion Jessica Pegula, 2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff, Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen, and two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini.
Leylah Annie Fernandez is the lone Canadian within the singles draw, and seeded 20th within the occasion, she receives a gap spherical bye. It’s simply the second time competing on the occasion for the 22-year-old, who’s once more to set to represent her nation at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals later this Fall in Malaga.
Fernandez will meet the winner of upstart American Peyton Stearns and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro within the second spherical. Canadians Marina Stakusic and Carol Zhao each misplaced in qualifying.
In the meantime, Félix Auger-Aliassime is within the area on the ATP’s Tokyo Open, a 500 degree occasion. The 24-year-old will look to construct off his Davis Cup momentum, after going an ideal 3-0 in singles for Canada within the Group Stage.
The Montreal native reached the quarterfinals in Tokyo final season. He’s set to play his opening spherical match towards Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
