Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will be taking the court for both singles and doubles on the final day of the 2019 Laver Cup. Team Europe needs to win only two matches to clinch the cup for the third time in the three years of this event.
(Europe) Rafael Nadal vs. (World) Nick Kyrgios
It can be debated if the Laver Cup is a real event or an exhibition at this point, but you can be sure Nadal and Kyrgios will be going all out in this singles showdown on Sunday afternoon. First, they don’t like each other. Second, there is no mathematical way that the cup will be decided when they take the court for Sunday’s second rubber (following a doubles match that pits Nadal and Roger Federer against John Isner and Jack Sock).
Nadal leads the contentious head-to-head series 4-3 and they have split their two 2019 encounters. Kyrgios prevailed 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(6) en route to the Acapulco title before Nadal survived a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3) thriller at Wimbledon. The second-ranked Spaniard also worked double duty on Saturday, when he beat Milos Raonic 6-3, 7-6(1) and then lost with Stefanos Tsitsipas to Kyrgios and Sock. Kyrgios preceded his doubles victory with a 6-7(5), 7-5, 10-7 loss to Federer. This is a good opportunity for the 27th-ranked Australian, as his opponent does not need to be playing so much tennis on the heels of his U.S. Open triumph and did not play particularly well against Raonic.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
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(Europe) Roger Federer vs. (World) John Isner
Federer and Isner will be facing each other for a second straight year at the Laver Cup. Isner had home-court advantage last season in the United States (Chicago) and suffered a tough 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 10-7 loss. Federer has that edge this time around in Geneva, but their only previous Switzerland-based meeting resulted in a shocking 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 clay-court Davis Cup victory for Isner. The 6’10” American, though, is underrated on clay–which is by far Federer’s worst surface.
The 38-year-old Swiss positively thrives in this Laver Cup setting (in part because it is on an indoor hard court), and that is certainly the case at home in Switzerland. He looked good against Kyrgios on Saturday and also carried Alexander Zverev to a Friday doubles win over Sock and Denis Shapovalov. An inspired, confident Federer should be able to get the job done in two competitive sets.
Pick: Federer in 2
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WYG?
I think Trd is great, but when I ssaw him at the US Open, he all of a sudden looked old and tired. I was shocked. I realize he’s only 38, but in tennis that’s getting up there(sorta like dog year’s) Their matches are always competetive and I think Isner has a chance. Don’t know about Rafa and Nick, could go either way, both will be looking for revenge. Ought to be interesting.
Rafa won’t play.
Nadal said: “I’ve had an amazing time playing here at the Laver Cup and I’m so disappointed I’m not able to play again today, but I have some inflammation in my hand and I need to rest.
So nothing serious but no Fedal doubles today, which is really a shame.
Nadal injured
https://napitutitippek.hu/