Team World impress at Laver Cup as scores level after day one

After one day of Laver Cup action in Berlin, Team World and Team Europe cannot be separated.

Despite being heavy underdogs, Team World punched above their weight and won two of the four ties on Friday, leaving the tournament level at 2-2 heading into day two.

Fransisco Cerundolo got his side off to a winning start, defeating Team Europe’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 even though he was a +137 underdog with tennis betting sites and 22 places behind his opponent in the ATP rankings.

“Tennis is like this!” declared Cerundolo, who had been under pressure in the opening few games of the match.

“There’s a lot of momentum, it can suddenly change, so you have to feel out the match.

“The first seven games were tough, long rallies, really tough games, but when I broke him I started playing better.

“Maybe he became a bit more frustrated or anxious to play more aggressive or change his plan.

“It’s a one-on-one fight, so sometimes you have to get out the frustrations of the other player.”

Australia’s Kokkinakis was next onto court for Team World, but the world No.78 was unable to replicate last month’s upset of Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open.

The Greek dismantled Kokkinakis in just an hour and 21 minutes, dropping only five games as he gained Team Europe’s first points with a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

“It was important for us, Team Europe, to get a point, we didn’t start very well this morning but I’m very happy that I contributed a point,” Tsitsipas said afterwards.

“I was trying to redeem myself and go out on the court and not just do it for myself but for my whole team.”

Grigor Dimitrov soon put Team Europe in front when he overcame Alejandro Tabilo in the third singles match of the day.

Initially, it looked as though Tabilo would have the better of Dimitrov, with the Chilean blowing a 5-1 lead at one stage and falling in two consecutive tiebreaks, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2).

“I felt like there were some incredible points from both of us,” Tabilo reflected after what was a high-quality match.

“Grigor moves so well – he covers the court so well, you feel like you have to hit an extra shot.

“I felt we were both playing some great tennis. The first set was an incredible level.”

Rounding out day one, the main event was a blockbuster doubles match between Team World’s Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton and Team Europe’s Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.

Online bookmakers had this tie as the closest of them all ahead of the first ball, with Team Europe getting a slight edge at $1.80 to win.

However, the American duo showed that sometimes synergy and team spirit count for more than individual ability, with the two combining brilliantly for a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory.

“We both served really well… Ben served incredible,” said Fritz, who recently made the US Open singles final and won a bronze medal at the Olympics in the doubles.

“It makes life pretty easy when you’re playing with a guy who is moving like Taylor is right now, he’s pretty light on his feet,” said Shelton.

“This was our first time playing together and I think the chemistry was pretty good.”

Despite Team World defying expectations and bagging two wins on day one, tennis bookmakers have barely budged on their outright odds to win the tournament.

Team Europe are at -277.78 to prevail, while Team World pay +220 to win their third Laver Cup in a row.

Day two will see Daniil Medvedev take on Frances Tiafoe, followed by Alcaraz vs Shelton and Zverev vs Fritz, before Ruud and Tsitsipas take on Shelton and Tabilo in doubles.

Points are doubled for all action on day two.

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