Crew World moved to inside one win of retaining its Laver Cup title on Saturday evening when Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton downed Hubert Hurkacz and Gael Monfils to provide John McEnroe’s facet a 10-2 lead towards Crew Europe.
After Casper Ruud had given Crew Europe its first factors earlier on Saturday, Frances Tiafoe responded to regain momentum for Crew World. Auger-Aliassime and Shelton’s 7-5, 6-4 victory means Crew World must win one of many remaining 4 matches on Sunday to elevate the trophy for the second consecutive yr. Every match on Sunday will likely be value three factors.
“It’s wonderful,” Shelton mentioned. “If you play with a man who serves and returns like Felix and is as athletic as him and goes again for the overhead and is as robust as him. It’s a enjoyable outing right here. We name him Laver Cup Felix as a result of he turns into one thing particular this week. I’m pleased I obtained to share the courtroom with him not less than as soon as.”
Competing in Vancouver, Canadian Auger-Aliassime and American Shelton received 81 per cent (42/52) of their first-serve and factors and saved all three break factors they confronted to triumph after one hour and 23 minutes.
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Tiafoe confronted stress Saturday night when he stepped on courtroom on the Laver Cup. Not solely was the American making an attempt to halt Crew Europe’s momentum after Ruud received the second match of the day, however Tiafoe was making an attempt to flip the script towards Hurkacz, who had received their previous three Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences.
Mission achieved for the 25-year-old. Tiafoe defeated Hurkacz 7-5, 6-3.
“I simply assume being in a staff surroundings is so overseas to us tennis gamers,” Tiafoe mentioned. “It’s such a person sport. However I simply got here out and I simply wish to compete for the fellows and play effectively for the fellows. I wish to placed on a present.
The No. 11 participant within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Tiafoe had misplaced three consecutive singles matches coming into the encounter. However after incomes a doubles victory alongside Tommy Paul on Friday night, Tiafoe rose to the event in Vancouver. He harnessed the power of the gang to resist 11 aces from Hurkacz.
Within the essential moments, it was the American who thrived. Tiafoe saved the one break level he confronted whereas changing three of his 5 alternatives to triumph after one hour and 13 minutes.
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