Laver Cup Day 2: Novak Djokovic and Matteo Berrettini gave a complete performance in both their singles and doubles contest to help Team Europe end Day 2 with an 8-4 lead at the Laver Cup on Saturday. Berrettini started the day with a hard-fought victory over Felix Auger Aliassime, meanwhile Djokovic defeated Frances Tiafoe in straight sets. Both the players then paired up to defeat Jack Sock and Alex de Minaur to give the lead to Europe. Team World’s only victory on the day came when Taylor Fritz defeated Cameron Norrie 6-1, 4-6, 10-8. Follow Laver Cup schedule updates live with InsideSport.IN
Laver Cup Day 2: Novak Djokovic & Matteo Berretini defeat Jack Sock & Alex de Minaur, Team Europe ends Day 2 with 8-4 lead – Check Highlights
Day 2 Results
Day session
Matteo Berrettini BEAT Felix Auger-Aliassime – 7-6, 4-6, 10-7
Cameron Norrie LOST TO Taylor Fritz – 1-6, 6-4, 8-10
Night session
Novak Djokovic BEAT Frances Tiafoe – 6-1, 6-3
Novak Djokovic/Matteo Berrettini BEAT Jack Sock/Alex de Minaur – 7-5, 6-2
The pendulum swings back to Team Europe with a superb performance from Novak Djokovic, who halts Frances Tiafoe in straight sets.
Europe now leads 6-4.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/5aldKG7MhQ
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 24, 2022
Novak Djokovic vs Frances Tiafoe
Novak Djokovic made a winning return to Tour on Saturday at the Laver Cup, dispatching Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-3. The Serbian was competing for the first time since July, when he won his 21st Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. However, he showed few signs of rust, striking his watertight groundstrokes with fierce accuracy against Tiafoe to earn his 24th tour-level win of the season after 73 minutes.
Soon in the doubles contest, Djokovic teamed up with Matteo Berrettini as the pair clinched a straight set victory over Jack Sock and Alex de Minaur to give Team Europe a 8-4 victory.
Back on even footing.
Team World’s Taylor Fritz survives a roller coaster battle with Cameron Norrie of Team Europe to bring the #LaverCup score to 4-4. pic.twitter.com/JJOFNA5ogH
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 24, 2022
Cameron Norrie vs Taylor Fritz
Taylor Fritz helped Team World level the scores 4-4 after moving past Team Europe’s Cameron Norrie 6-1, 4-6, 10-8. Fritz started off by breaking Norrie twice to take 4-0 lead at the start of the first set. Norrie struggled to get a foothold in the contest and could managed to just hold one of his service games as he Fritz won 6-1.
In the second set, Norrie made a good start by breaking Fritz in the first game of the set to take 1-0 lead. However Fritz came back soon in the contest and broke Norrie to level the scores 2-2. Norrie then came back strong to break Fritz 5-4 and grabbed the first set by holding on to his next service game. However, Fritz would not be denied, edging a tight Match Tie-break to triumph after 89 minutes. The American now leads Norrie 6-5 in their ATP Head2Head series, avenging his defeat against the Briton at last week’s Davis Cup Finals.
Matteo Berrettini gives the lead back to Team Europe with a three-set effort against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Europe now up 4-2 over Team World.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/VK4A7ALBTb
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 24, 2022
Matteo Berrettini vs Felix Auger Aliassime
Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger Aliassime played the longest match in the history of the Laver Cup just last year with Berrettini finally prevailing after a 2 hours and 52 minutes encounter. They have so far showcased signs of another long match as nothing could separate both the players in the first set which went into the tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker too, the tight contest ensued and finally Berrettini could seal it 13-11 to win the first set in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
In the second set, after both the players held on to their first service game, Aliassime broke Berrettini to lead 2-1. From then on, he capitalised on that lead and didn’t let the Italian break his serve as he won the second set 6-4 top take the contest into the 10-point tie-breaker. In the tir-breaker, trailing 1-2, Berrettini gave a good comeback as he clinched six succesive points to take 7-2 lead. Aliassime managed to make a comeback but it was not enough as Berrettini won it 10-7 to give two points to Team Europe.
Laver Cup Day 2: Novak Djokovic & Matteo Berretini defeat Jack Sock & Alex de Minaur, Team Europe ends Day 2 with 8-4 lead – Check Highlights
