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.


Photo Credit USTA/Darren Carroll

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.
Order of play for September 23, 2018