The European team closed the second day with a score in favor of 8-4, after the triumphs of the Italian and the Serbian in singles and doubles
MADRID, 25 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini and the Serbian Novak Djokovic, established as the new European captain after the absences of Federer and Nadal in the remainder of the Laver Cup, were key for the European Team to extend its distance (8-4) over the World Team, winning three of the four games of the second day.
The last and final match pitted both players against Jack Sock and Alex De Miñaur, who could not beat some solvent European tennis players who asserted their status as favorites to win in two sets 7-5 and 6-2 in one hour and 23 minutes. minutes. The 8-4 lead makes Europe a favorite for the third and final day, in which the duels will be worth three points.
The Serbian reached doubles plugged in, after overwhelming Frances Tiafoe in their singles match, a duel that he faced almost 80 days after his last official match. Djokovic showed no mercy to the American, author along with Sock of Federer’s losing farewell this Friday, and went over the world number 19 in two sets (6-1 and 6-3).
The American only lasted an hour and 14 minutes for Djokovic, who showed confidence and security on his return to the tracks, to make it 6-4 for Europe.
In the first duel of the day, the Italian Matteo Berrettini achieved a two-point lead over the World Team, with a score of 4-2 in the tournament, after beating the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets by 7-6. (11), 4-6 and 10-7.
Berrettini was chosen by Börg to replace Roger Federer, who lived an emotional farewell this Friday in his last match as a professional, in this first singles match on Saturday. And he did not disappoint, supported by excellent service, which was key in the duel. The Italian did not need any ‘break’, since he prevailed thanks to a ‘tie-break’ and the definitive ‘super tie-break’ in the third round.
Cameron Norrie was not so lucky in his match against Taylor Fritz, the second of the day on Saturday and which the American won, to put the momentary 4-4 between both teams. The British replaced Nadal, who left the tournament for “personal reasons”, but could not with the great service of the North American, who grew during the match neutralizing the British in three sets (6-1, 4-6 and 10-8 ).
After a first set in which Fritz overwhelmed Norrie in 23 minutes, the American lowered his level in the second set, something that the British took advantage of to connect with the match and force the final third set. In the ‘super tie-break’ Fritz used his experience to put the World Team back into contention.