ROGER FEDERER WINS AT LAVER CUP, DOUBLES ONCE AGAIN SAVES TEAM WORLD

Written by: Staff on 23rd September 2018

ROGER FEDERER WINS AT LAVER CUP, DOUBLES ONCE AGAIN SAVES TEAM WORLD |

Photo by @lavercup via Instagram

By Ricky Dimon

Team World trails defending champion Team Europe 7-5 going into the final Day of the Laver Cup and must win three of Sunday’s four matches, but the home side will take it. After all, things could be much worse. John McEnroe’s squad trailed 7-1 after Roger Federer beat Nick Kyrgios on Saturday, but it took the last two rubbers (Kevin Anderson in singles, Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock in doubles) to get back within striking distance.

Saturday results

Alexander Zverev (Europe) d. John Isner (World) 3-6, 7-6(6), 10-7

Roger Federer (Europe) d. Nick Kyrgios (World) 6-3, 6-2

Kevin Anderson (World) d. Novak Djokovic (Europe) 7-6(5), 5-7, 10-6

Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock (World) d. Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin (Europe) 6-3, 6-4

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

Sunday

Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev (Europe) vs. John Isner and Jack Sock (World)

As expected, McEnroe has made the smart move to put Sock in every singles doubles match the entire week. Make no mistake about it: Sock is quite simply the best doubles player in the world. He is 2-0 in dubs so far in Chicago and now he is teaming up with perhaps the best server in tennis history. Of course, they have to go up against this guy named Federer, so it won’t be easy. Team World will probably pick on Zverev.

Roger Federer (Europe) vs. John Isner (World)

Isner appeared to be on his way to beating Zverev in Saturday’s opening match, but the German mounted a comeback and beat the 6’10” American in a tiebreaker for the third set. Federer, who crushed Kyrgios on Day 2, leads this head-to-head series 5-2. They have somehow not faced each other since 2015.

Alexander Zverev (Europe) vs. Kevin Anderson (World)

Zverev has won all four of their previous encounters, but of the three singles matches on Sunday this Team World’s best chance. Anderson has been on fire in 2018 and he is 2-0 at the Laver Cup, with a doubles win over Federer and Djokovic plus a Saturday singles upset of the reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion.

Novak Djokovic (Europe) vs. Nick Kyrgios (World)

Kyrgios played in the finale last year and lost an epic against Federer. Will his team still be in contention going into this one, thus giving him a shot to make amends? If so, it will be an incredibly fun one–and surely dramatic. Both players are coming off singles losses on Saturday, so that will only add to the motivation.