A sovereign Novak Djokovic put the European tennis selection back in front at the Laver Cup in London. On Saturday evening Djokovic didn’t give the American US Open semi-finalist Frances Tiafoe a chance at 6: 1, 6: 3 and at the side of Matteo Berrettini in doubles at the end of the day also beat Alex de Minaur / Jack Sock (AUS / USA ) 7:5.6:2. As a result, Team Europe goes into the final Sunday with an 8:4 lead.
While Roger Federer witnessed Djokovic’s success after his emotional farewell match on Friday, Rafael Nadal had already departed. Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam winner, decided to return to his wife as soon as possible after saying goodbye to Roger Federer. The couple is expecting the birth of their first child in the coming weeks. “The last few weeks have been difficult, I hardly slept and I was stressed,” said 36-year-old Nadal, whose wife struggled with complications during her pregnancy. “Fortunately, everything that allowed me to come here is fine now,” explained the Mallorcan. Nadal probably only traveled to England out of respect and friendship because of Federer’s farewell.
In Team Europe, the Spaniard was replaced by Cameron Norrie. Norrie lost the second singles on Saturday against Taylor Fritz (USA) 1:6,6:4,8:10, the Italian Berrettini won the first against Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 7:6(11),4:6, 10:7. Berrettini is a stand-in for Federer who is no longer able to play singles.