In previous installments of the Laver Cup, Team Europe was led by the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. They were a big reason why the Europeans held a 4-1 overall record heading into this year’s event.
Well, the Big 4 ain’t walkin’ through that door in 2023.
In the sixth chapter of the Laver Cup that was marked by young, new-look rosters on both sides, Team World crushed Team Europe 13-2 in Vancouver, Canada. The World won all four matches on Day 1 and three of the four on Day 2 to seize a commanding 10-2 lead heading into Sunday’s finale. Needing only one more match victory, the American duo of Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton finished it off right away by beating Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6(4), 7-6(5) to clinch the trophy for the home team.
It is the second success in a row for Team World, which finally prevailed for the first time via a 13-8 scoreline last fall in London.
“I think once we got over the hump…if you haven’t done it and then you do it, you have more belief that you can,” captain John McEnroe commented. “We came here and we sort of looked at what happened, a couple guys (on Team Europe) pulled out and we’re like, ‘Wait a minute, not only could we (win), but we should, in our minds, do it.”
Tiafoe and Shelton both went 3-0 in Vancouver (2-0 in doubles and 1-0 in singles). Auger-Aliassime compiled a 2-0 record in front of his home crowd (1-0 in doubles, 1-0 in singles). Team Europe’s only points came courtesy of Casper Ruud, who defeated Tommy Paul 7-6(6), 6-2 on Saturday.
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domination
Doubs were really fun…and great cheerleading f Shelton!