Laver Cup Day 2 - Wins by Zverev, Federer Keep Team Europe in the Lead 7-5

Laver Cup Day 2 – Wins by Zverev, Federer Keep Team Europe in the Lead 7-5

(September 22, 2018) CHICAGO – Coming into day two and Team World was up 3-1. On Saturday, each match was worth two points.

In a re-match of the recent Miami Open final, but the opposite result, Alexander Zverev saved a match point to beat John Isner 3-6, 7-6(6), 10-7 in the first match of day session.

Team World took 3-0 lead in the first set when Isner got an early break. Zverev saved a pair of break points in the next game to prevent a 4-0 lead. Isner served out the set 6-3 with an ace.

Things stayed tight in the second set sending it to a tiebreak. Isner took a 5-2 lead and the German stormed back to 5-5. Isner had a a match point at 6-5, but Zverev won the next 3 points to take the set.

In the match tiebreak, Zverev took a 4-0 lead. Isner drew closer to Zverev at 6-7, but Zverev shut the door winning three out the next 4 points for 10-7.

“The word “exhibition” is so stupid when it comes to talking about this event,” Isner said to media. “It’s the furthest thing from that.

“I mean, I’m totally dejected right now. Look at Sascha. He went down to his knees after winning that match. It’s not a show. If it is, we’re incredible actors, okay? So that’s not the case.

“I’m extremely disappointed to lose that match and in the fashion that I did. It was tough to swallow, having match point and being up 5-4 in my serve in that tiebreaker. You know, it’s tough. Very similar last year. Early on especially we lost a lot of tiebreakers.”

Zverev who is not that demonstrative on court, showed his emotions after surviving a match point with a backhand winner.

“I have said it many times: when I show emotions, I’m a better player,“Zverev said. I mean, sometimes it goes well; sometimes it doesn’t. But most of the time it helps me.”

“It was just a natural thing to do,” he said. “There was a lot of emotions involved. Obviously all the great players supporting and the whole team spirit and the whole team atmosphere was great.

“I felt the match was a very high-level match. Obviously at the beginning I kind of broke myself. But after that, it was very good.”

New father, Isner, whose daughter was born a week ago, will be skipping the tour in Asia to be with his family.

Roger Federer
Photo Credit USTA/Darren Carroll

Roger Federer extended Team Europe’s lead to 7-1 by soundly beating Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 6-2.

“I think I had a clear game plan and just had the feeling like I was making a lot of returns against Nick,” said the wolrd No. 2.” And from the baseline I was calm, composed, knew when to attack, when to wait. I was moving my feet very well. I think there you have it.”

Kyrgios was not happy with his own play.

“I have beaten every single person on that bench,” said the top Australian. “So I know where my game is. What I brought today was not good enough, but, you know, it’s obviously — I know how special it is to be here with Roger and Novak. You know, those guys are some of the greatest of all time and ever will play the game.

“For me, I was extremely disappointed in my performance today. I don’t really look at those guys and say, Oh, my God, it’s those guys.

“I expect to put in a better performance and beat them, because I have before. I was just disappointed today.”

The first match of the night session was a re-match of the Wimbledon final, with a reverse result. Keven Anderson beat the 2018 Wimbledon and US Open champion Novak Djokovic 7-6, 5-7, (10-6) to cut the lead to 7-3 against Team Europe. It’s a sort of homecoming for Anderson and his wife Kelsey. Anderson played at the University of Illinois where his wife also attended college.

“I had two unfortunately lost matches, but I, you know, I played over two hours both matches, both doubles last night with Roger and today singles,” said Djokovic.

“You know, I tried. I gave it my best, but Kevin was playing fantastic. I mean, he was playing amazing, serving amazing, just brilliant match, brilliant performance, and he deserved to win.”

“I tried to pick up where I left off in the Wimbledon match this year in the third set where I felt I played much better tennis,” Anderson said.

“Right from the beginning I was feeling really good. I thought I was serving good. I was staying in points a lot, doing all the things I needed to do against him.

“I thought all in all it was a really high quality match. I really had to play good tennis to beat him. I knew that was the case. He’s such a good tennis player and such a good competitor that he’s not going to give it to you.

“I thought I played really good tennis. Everything I have been trying to work on is great, another step in the right direction for me. Definitely feels good to get through that match today.”

Team World brought the team to within two points with the doubles match, when Jack Sock and Nick Kyrgios beat Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin 6-3, 6-4.

Kyrgios talked about the exciting atmosphere of the Saturday night session, swept by Team World. “Honestly it was probably one of the best atmospheres I have ever been a part of, watching Kevin play. Especially towards the end of the tiebreak, I got goosebumps. He hit a forehand, almost a forehand winner at 8-5.

“It was just so good seeing — you know, obviously Kev isn’t probably as immature as the rest of the team, and he goes about his business pretty different to us. But, you know, you saw at the end how much it meant to him, and I think he’s really starting to embrace the team environment and how much this event means to him.

“Yeah, it was unbelievable. Me and Jack always knew we were going to come out there and bring a lot of energy. We obviously won a title this year, which is big for me. It was my first one. But he’s done some big things in doubles.
Yeah, I mean, the Kevin match was unbelievable, honestly.”

Going into day three, where each match is three points, Team Europe leads Team World 7-5.