Laver Cup: Frances Tiafoe beats Stefanos Tsitsipas - Team World wins
Frances Tiafoe nailed the Laver Cup sensation. The American defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas after saving four match points in the Champions Tiebreak to seal Team World's first-ever triumph.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Sep 25, 2022, 07:09 pm
You really would not have wanted to change places with Stefanos Tsitsipas before this individual: The Greek played against Frances Tiafoe against the defeat - and not only in his singles, but against the defeat of the whole of Team Europe against the athletes from Team World, who were in an excellent mood to play . And for the first time since the Laver Cup was founded.
It was not necessarily to be assumed that the Greek would then deal with this situation so strongly: Tsitsipas led the newly crowned US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe over long stretches of the first set, making it 6-1 to 1-0 in under 30 minutes -Sentences. And early in section two, he recently had opportunities to go in front with a break. This time, however, Tiafoe was able to thwart.
Tiafoe stay tuned
The American was now getting into the match better and had little to counter Tsitsipa's serve, but was now better able to counteract it in his service games. And now sent the second set into a quick decision. In this, Tiafoe initially had the upper hand, but when the score was 5: 6 Tsitsipas, it was suddenly match point Tsitsipas. Tiafoe parried.
The American was also able to thwart three more match balls in a row - and with the score at 12:11 it was time for the outsider to win this set. Because: Tiafoe unpacked a worth seeing serve-and-volley attempt and put a backhand volley stop exactly on the line. As so often this weekend, a champions tie-break had to make the decision.
Tiafoe with great Champions Tiebreak
In this, Frances Tiafoe played himself into a real frenzy - the best example was an unbelievably run stop ball with a sensational counterattack - and achieved a comfortable lead at 8:4. The American couldn't take it anymore: Tiafoe secured the victory - and with it the first success of Team World over Team Europe in the history of the Laver Cup.
So there is no longer the final individual of the day between Taylor Fritz and Casper Ruud. After being 4:8 behind, Team World was able to win three matches in a row after day two - and thus secured the sensational 13:8 triumph in the team competition. Earlier in the day, Jack Sock and Felix Auger-Aliassime in doubles and the Canadian in singles against Novak Djokovic provided victories for John McEnroe's team.