LAVER CUP • ROGER FEDERER | NOVAK DJOKOVIC LOSE IN DUBS BUT TEAM EUROPE STILL LEADS 3-1 IN CHICAGO

Written by: Staff on 22nd September 2018

LAVER CUP • ROGER FEDERER | NOVAK DJOKOVIC LOSE IN DUBS BUT TEAM EUROPE STILL LEADS 3-1 IN CHICAGO |

Photo by @lavercup via Instagram

By Ricky Dimon

Defending champion Team Europe leads Team World 3-1 following Day 1 action at the Laver Cup in Chicago, Ill. The Europeans won all three of the singles matches before Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic fell to Kevin Anderson and Jack Sock in a super-tiebreaker.

Friday results

Grigor Dimitrov (Europe) d. Frances Tiafoe (World) 6-1, 6-4

Kyle Edmund (Europe) d. Jack Sock (World) 6-4, 5-7, 10-6

David Goffin (Europe) d. Diego Schwartzman (World) 6-4, 4-6, 11-9

Kevin Anderson and Jack Sock (World) d. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (Europe) 6-7(5), 6-3, 10-6

Saturday

Alexander Zverev (Europe) vs. John Isner (World)

Zverev and Isner have faced each other five times in an official capacity (Laver Cup, for example, does not count), with the German leading the head-to-head series 4-1. Isner’s biggest career win, however, came at Zverev’s expense via a three-set win in this year’s Miami Masters final. Both men are in the midst of their best seasons on tour, so this should be a good one.

Roger Federer (Europe) vs. Nick Kyrgios (World)

It had to be this–there was no other option. The Federer vs. Kyrgios U.S. Open match a few weeks ago was entirely one-way traffic in the Swiss’ favor, but their showdowns have otherwise produced some of the most entertaining tennis this sport has to offer–that includes a 2017 Laver Cup contest, won by Federer for the clinching points. In this kind of electric atmosphere, another epic one should be in the cards.

Novak Djokovic (Europe) vs. Kevin Anderson (World)

Make it a clean sweep of Saturday singles matches that will be contested by familiar foes. Djokovic and Anderson went head-to-head in this summer’s Wimbledon final and they also squared off in Friday’s Laver Cup doubles match. The two veterans also have experience on the same side of the net, as they teamed up for a dubs partnership at the recent Rogers Cup.

Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin (Europe) vs. Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock (World)

If Team World can’t win this one, it is in serious trouble. Sock is the best doubles player on the planet right now and Kyrgios is his BFF, so their chemistry will be outstanding. Even Kyrgios is much better on the doubles court than Dimitrov and Goffin.