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Alcaraz thrilled to play in front of Federer: 'I wished for that moment for a long time’

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2024

Roger Federer has seen a lot in his career. Friday at the Laver Cup, the Swiss was faced with something new.

Federer watched four-time major champion and No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings Carlos Alcaraz play a match in person for the first time.

The stars had already gotten to know one another during the leadup to the event, chatting at various functions, posing together for a photoshoot and having a nice conversation on the practice court Friday before the Spaniard’s match.

But for the first time, 103-time tour-level titlist Federer experienced the Spaniard’s game up close when Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev faced Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton in doubles. Fritz and Shelton won the match in straight sets.

Alcaraz reflected on playing a match in front of Federer for the first time, saying: “It was great, honestly, playing in front of him. It’s the first time that he watched one of my matches in real life and I’m really happy that he was there watching our doubles.

“I think I’m good [at doubles], but I’m not as good as [I am at] the singles, I guess. I hope to see him tomorrow in the singles. I hope he enjoyed the doubles match, and obviously it was great seeing him in the practice. He didn’t tell me any tactics, any advice. But he just told me that he’s really happy about watching me in real life, that I’m here. It was a great time for me. I wished [for] that moment for a long time.”

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Scores level at Laver Cup after Fritz/Shelton down Alcaraz/Zverev in doubles

  • Posted: Sep 21, 2024

The battle for the 2024 Laver Cup is intriguingly poised heading into Day 2.

Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton drew Team World level at 2-2 with Team Europe after downing the host team’s star Friday-night doubles pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 6-4 in the final match of the day in Berlin.

Americans Fritz and Shelton fired 20 winners, including eight aces, en route to a 95-minute victory against the No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings Zverev and No. 3 Alcaraz, the latter of whom was making his Laver Cup debut. They sealed their win after clinching a crucial break in the ninth game of the second set to restore parity for Team World in the annual teams event.

“We both served really well under pressure,” said Fritz in his on-court interview. “Ben served incredibly well, so I didn’t have to hit any volleys. That was huge.”

Shelton added: “I was just having fun out there to be honest. It makes life pretty easy when you’re playing with a guy who is moving like Taylor is right now. Pretty light on his feet, and we had a lot of fun. Our first time playing together, and I think the chemistry was pretty good.”

Grigor Dimitrov had earlier opened a 2-1 lead for Team Europe on the opening day with a thrilling 7-6(4), 7-6(2) victory against Team World’s Alejandro Tabilo. The Bulgarian rallied from a double-break deficit at 1-5 to snatch a straight-sets win and improve to 2-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Tabilo.

Dimitrov, who was forced to retire from his US Open quarter-final against Frances Tiafoe due to injury just 16 days ago, sent down 11 aces and won 80 per cent of points behind his first serve as he overcame some more physical struggles inside Uber Arena. With his two-hour, 15-minute win, Dimitrov improved to 2-0 in Laver Cup singles matches after he previously defeated Tiafoe on his event debut in 2018 in Chicago.

There will be three more singles matches and one doubles match in Berlin on Saturday, when each victory will be worth two points. Team World is bidding to win its third consecutive Laver Cup this year after it triumphed in London in 2022 and Vancouver last year.

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Cerundolo upsets Ruud, Tsitsipas levels for Europe at Laver Cup

  • Posted: Sep 20, 2024

Francisco Cerundolo helped Team World take its first step towards a third consecutive Laver Cup title on Friday afternoon. Team Europe’s Stefanos Tsitsipas then promptly issued a swift reminder of the challenge facing the Argentine and his teammates this weekend in Berlin.

The No. 31 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Cerundolo upset Casper Ruud in the opening match of the 2024 edition of the teams event. He triumphed 6-4, 6-4 after 97 minutes to take a 4-3 lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the World No. 9.

“I’m super happy. I had the responsibility to go there and play the first match. I knew it was going to be tough,” said Cerundolo in his post-match press conference. “Casper is a great player. We played many times, so I knew how he was going to play, and I think I did a really good job from the beginning to the end.

“I was really there, focused, and super happy to get my second win in Laver Cup and first this year.”

Cerundolo outhit Ruud by 16 winners to 11 to avenge his recent defeat to the Norwegian at the Paris Olympics. The Argentine adjusted more quickly to the indoor conditions at Uber Arena than Ruud, who struggled with the consistency of his groundstrokes, to give Team World and its captain John McEnroe the perfect start in Berlin.

“We have seen it a couple of times, where it can come down on the last day to a point or two, so every point is very important,” said Team World Vice-captain Patrick McEnroe. “Especially, I think, the first match, it’s good to get some momentum.”

If Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg was after a fast response, he certainly got one from Tsitsipas. The Greek raced to a 6-1, 6-4 win against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second match of the afternoon session.

Tsitsipas set the tone on the opening point of the match, when he pushed Kokkinakis wide with an arrowed backhand before moving in to put away an emphatic volley. The World No. 12 barely looked back from there, and completed his win having broken his Australian opponent’s serve three times in his 81-minute win.

With one point on offer for each win on Day 1, that left the score between Team Europe and Team World at 1-1 heading into Friday evening’s session, when Grigor Dimitrov will take on Alejandro Tabilo, before home favourite Alexander Zverev and Laver Cup debutant Carlos Alcaraz meet Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton in the opening doubles clash of the weekend.

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Jarry snaps streak to reach Chengdu QFs

  • Posted: Sep 20, 2024

Third seed Nicolas Jarry battled past Lukas Klein 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the quarter-finals at the Chengdu Open.

The No. 28 in the PIF ATP Rankings struck 19 aces en route to snapping his seven-match losing streak since he defeated Tommy Paul in Rome. Jarry also saved five of Klein’s seven break points to close out the match in two hours, 18 minutes.

“I played very well that last game, put him under some pressure and didn’t give him any room,” Jarry said after the match. “The game before was very tight, he played some unbelievable returns and I just stuck there right in the present, very strong.

“Hopefully I can continue on my path the best way possible.”

Jarry will next face qualifier Alibek Kachmazov, who reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final by defeating Taro Daniel 7-6(1), 6-1.

The No. 252 in the PIF ATP Rankings was clinical as he converted all four of his break point chances, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to record the biggest victory of his career.

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Yannick Hanfmann overcame seventh seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals at the Chengdu Open.

In the pair’s first meeting, the 32-year-old won 79 per cent (37/47) of his first-serve points. The German also struck 26 winners to seal victory over the 21-year-old in one hour, 49 minutes.

“You have to be patient, that was the key to the match,” Hanfmann said in his post-match interview. “You’re not going to get a lot of chances to break him, he’s an amazing server.

“But I thought I had great patience, and I used the chances when I had them, so I’m very happy with this performance.”

The No. 95 in the PIF ATP Rankings progressed to his second career quarter-final on hard courts (Antwerp 2023). He will next face  Aleksandar Vukic or fourth seed Pedro Martinez. 

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Nakashima saves MPs, advances to Hangzhou QFs

  • Posted: Sep 20, 2024

Fourth seed Brandon Nakashima saved two match points to overcome #NextGenATP star Coleman Wong 6-7(7), 7-6(4), 6-1 on Friday and advance to the quarter-finals at the Hangzhou Open.

Nakashima, who is at a career high No. 39 in the PIF ATP Rankings, held his nerve to save two match points as he served at 6-5 down in the second set. The American struck 39 winners to defeat the 20-year-old in two hours, 40 minutes.

The former Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF winner has maintained his momentum in the recent months, posting an 11-4 record since August, including a fourth-round run at the US Open. At Flushing Meadows he defeated Lorenzo Musetti and Holger Rune as he equalled his best run at a Grand Slam.

Nakashima advanced to his 14th ATP Tour quarter-final where he will face Australian Rinky Hijikata, who progressed after Fabian Marozsan withdrew due to sickness.

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Mikhail Kukushkin rolled back the years as he defeated Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 7-6(3) in an all-Kazakhstani battle.

The 36-year-old converted three of his five break point chances as he reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final in four years (Nur-Sultan 2020).

Kukushkin broke a six-year title drought on the ATP Challenger Tour earlier this year, capturing titles in Manama and Tenerife. The former No. 39 in the PIF ATP Rankings will face either second seed Karen Khachanov or Yunchaokete Bu next.

 

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Laver Cup & ATP announce five-year extension to partnership

  • Posted: Sep 20, 2024

The Laver Cup and the ATP have today announced a five-year extension to their existing certification agreement, which began with Laver Cup 2019, and both renews and enhances their partnership.

This extension comes as the Laver Cup enters its seventh edition today at Uber Arena in Berlin, marking a significant milestone for the event as it continues to bring together tennis superstars from the past, present and future in a thrilling team competition and a unique celebration of the sport.

The Laver Cup, where top players from Europe take on their counterparts from the rest of the world, will continue to benefit from the ATP’s global reach, marketing services — including press and social media — and operational support, including officials and physios.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the ATP,” said Tony Godsick, Laver Cup Chairman and CEO of TEAM8.

“Their recognition validates the Laver Cup vision, which is to bring together the world’s top players – rivals year-round – as teammates, to celebrate and honour the legendary Rod Laver and his compatriots, while growing interest in this wonderful sport at new destinations around the world.”

“The Laver Cup has quickly established itself as a unique highlight of our season,” added ATP Chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi. “The passionate reception it receives from both the players and fans at every city it visits speaks volumes and we truly value the great potential Laver Cup has to attract new fans around the globe. We are delighted to be supporting its continued growth.”

Roger Federer, a driving force behind the creation of the Laver Cup, shared his enthusiasm about the future of the event.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built with the Laver Cup,” said Federer. “Becoming recognised as part of the ATP Tour five years ago was an important milestone. It’s been fantastic to see the way players, partners and fans around the globe have embraced Laver Cup. I’m excited for its future.”

[ATP APP]

This year marks the final appearance of legendary Laver Cup captains and former rivals Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, who have served as Team Europe and Team World captains, respectively, since the tournament’s inaugural year in 2017.

“The Laver Cup has been a huge success, and I’ve been honoured to be part of it from the beginning,” said Borg as he reflected on his involvement with the event.

“The values this event stands for—commitment to excellence, a focus on the team, respect for the opponent, and a love for the game—are things we see time and again throughout the competition. It’s been a privilege to lead such a talented group of players in this iconic competition.”

“What the Laver Cup has achieved in just a few years is incredible,” McEnroe added. “This event captures the essence of what tennis is all about: competition, passion, innovation and sportsmanship. I’ve enjoyed every moment as captain of Team World, and I can’t wait to see how the Laver Cup continues to inspire players and fans alike in the future.”

Since its inception in 2017, the Laver Cup has rapidly established itself as one of the most anticipated events on the tennis calendar. The five-year extension of this agreement between the Laver Cup and the ATP underscores the event’s success and its ability to contribute to tennis’ growth globally.

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What is the Laver Cup schedule?

  • Posted: Sep 19, 2024

The 2024 Laver Cup gets underway on Friday 20 September in Berlin, Germany, where John McEnroe’s Team World will begin its Laver Cup defence against Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe.

There are plenty of interesting matches from the start. The first match begins at 1 p.m. with World No. 9 Casper Ruud facing Francisco Cerundolo.

[ATP APP]

Fans will be able to watch four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz compete alongside Alexander Zverev in the doubles action. The two will face the American duo of Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz, concluding Friday’s order of play.

ORDER OF PLAY – Friday

UBER ARENA

Matches start at 1 p.m.
Casper Ruud (Team Europe) vs Francisco Cerundolo (Team World)

followed by
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Team Europe) vs Thanasi Kokkinakis (Team World)

7 p.m.
Grigor Dimitrov (Team Europe) vs Alejandro Tabilo (Team World)

followed by
Carlos Alcaraz (Team Europe), Alexander Zverev (Team Europe) vs Taylor Fritz (Team World), Ben Shelton (Team World)

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Why Federer says this week at Laver Cup is 'bittersweet'

  • Posted: Sep 19, 2024

For the seventh and final time, legends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will face off as captains of Team Europe and Team World, respectively, at the Laver Cup in Berlin. The event, which begins Friday, marks the end of an era.

The Laver Cup, founded in 2017 by former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Roger Federer, has seen Borg lead Team Europe and McEnroe Team World since the event’s inception.

“For me it’s very much a bittersweet week with Bjorn and John because I would love them to be captains forever,” Federer said. “At the same time, we’ve got to move with the times, I guess.”

Despite the end of their captaincies, Federer expressed deep gratitude for their contributions to the tournament.

“It was supposed to be three years, four or two, and it ended up being seven,” Federer said. “It’s been seven great years. Couldn’t have had better captains, to be honest.”

The two will be replaced by Yannick Noah, who will captain Team Europe, and Andre Agassi, who will step in for Team World.

[ATP APP]

“Of course, in the future I hope that Bjorn and John will return and pass on the torch… to Yannick and Andre, that they will always be friends and guests as captains of the inaugural event,” Federer said.

Team Europe won the first four editions of the Laver Cup, and Team World has triumphed in back-to-back years. John McEnroe and Team World will aim for its third straight victory over the three-day competition.

“The weather is supposed to be really beautiful,” Federer said. “Okay we’re playing indoors, but still when you go out, it’s nice. So yeah, I think coming to Berlin for the Laver Cup is very fun. Looking forward to a great week.”

 

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McEnroe: Spirit key for Team World three-peat at Laver Cup

  • Posted: Sep 19, 2024

What role can personality and emotion play in forging success on the tennis court? Perhaps no one is better placed to comment on the topic than John McEnroe.

The American tennis icon is banking on team spirit to lay the foundation for Team World’s 2024 Laver Cup campaign this weekend in Berlin. Up against a Team Europe lineup featuring five of the Top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, McEnroe nonetheless believes his Team World has what it takes to seal its third consecutive crown at the teams event.

“I believe that every Laver Cup we have played, nine of the Top 10 have been Europeans,” said McEnroe, when asked about his team’s off-court cohesion during a pre-event press conference. “So I think that team spirit that’s something that has helped carry us eventually to victory and kept us really close in others. It’s an excellent point.”

Not that McEnroe doesn’t have some top ATP Tour talent to send out on court at Uber Arena. His roster is led by World No. 7 Taylor Fritz, who will be competing for the first time since reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open earlier this month. Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis complete the Team World lineup.

Fritz shied away from suggestions that he was going to be something of a ‘leader’ within his team in Berlin, but instead said each member of Team World is ready to take individual responsibility in their bid to retain the Laver Cup.

“In this competition, it’s just up to each of us to do our part to get the points,” said the American. “One person can’t win it. Everybody’s got a job to do. [After the US Open] I had a couple of days off to relax, to just enjoy some time off after a long two weeks. Then I started to get back into it a couple days before and I have had some good practices here, getting myself ready to go for this weekend.”

One man who is aiming to maintain his perfect Laver Cup record is Shelton, who made his debut in Team World’s comprehensive victory in Vancouver a year ago. The 21-year-old is used to operating in a team format, having played college tennis at the University of Florida in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s a lot of fun for me,” said Shelton, when asked about returning to a team format. “Pro tennis is a lot different from college tennis. Usually everything is on your own shoulders, so it’s nice to be able to rely on your teammates sometimes. Team World, we’ve a lot of guys that are reliable, especially Taylor Fritz. That guy is solid as a rock. Crazy. I think it’s a special event for me to be a part of.

“I’m just grateful that two years straight I got to come out here and compete, because I love the team atmosphere and I love cheering on my guys and competing when I’ve got guys cheering for me on the sidelines.”

Some South American flair will be injected into the 2024 version of Team World by Chilean Tabilo and Argentine Cerundolo.

It will be a Laver Cup debut for Tabilo, who rose to a career-high No. 19 in the PIF ATP Rankings in July after a series of high-quality showings across the first half of 2024. The 27-year-old was outside the Top 100 as recently as last November, but will now line up for Team World in ATP legend McEnroe’s final outing as captain.

“It’s pretty surreal. I mean, when a legend in the sport like [McEnroe] is giving us tips and everything, it’s nice,” said Tabilo. “Obviously I’m going to try and use that for the rest of my career. Just definitely going to help this week and hopefully for the whole year.”

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