Laver Cup 2022 LIVE: Frances Tiafoe and Team World stun Europe and Roger Federer to win tournament
Team World produced a stunning upset as they swept all three matches on Sunday, with Felix Auger-Aliassime beating Novak Djokovic and Tiafoe defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas
Team World produced a stunning comeback on the final day to shock Team Europe and win the Laver Cup for the first time, denying Roger Federer on the final tournament of his career.
The World team, who had lost all four previous editions of the Laver Cup, needed to win three out of four matches to defeat the European team but swept a dramatic day to upset the odds at the O2 Arena in London. The script was flipped in style following the opening two matches of the day. After Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini were beaten in the doubles, Felix Auger-Aliassime produced a stunning performance in the singles to defeat Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6.
It left the World needing just one victory to lift the Laver Cup, and Frances Tiafoe produced it with a thrilling comeback victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas, in which he saved four match points and won two tiebreaks. It came after Federer waved a tearful farewell to tennis following his emotional defeat alongside Rafael Nadal on the opening night, on what was a special weekend of tennis.
Relive the action from the final day of the Laver Cup, below:
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-6 Frances Tiafoe
Now that’s the start Tiafoe wanted. He read the serve to read the return and the volley from Tsitsipas is wide.
Tiafoe then has Tsitsipas on the run, but he finds the forehand down the line that clips the back of the court! Huge shot.
Ace out wide from Tsitsipas. Tiafoe then jumps on a backhand but Tsitsipas plays a sublime little backhand dropshot to get to 40-15.
Ace. Game. Tiebreak.
Laver Cup 2022: *Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 5-6 Frances Tiafoe
This is much, much better from Tiafoe though. He holds with ease. The serve is firing he’s adding some lovely volleys. The combination has thrown Tsitsipas off a bit.
Team World are now trying to figure out how to stop this Tsitsipas serve.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 5-5 Frances Tiafoe*
Tsitsipas has barely dropped a point on serve all match and that continues into the 10th game of the second set - another hold to love for Greek. His serves keep hitting their mark and now Tiafoe will serve to stay in the match.
Laver Cup 2022: *Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 4-5 Frances Tiafoe
Brilliant from Tsitsipas! Tiafoe hits a wonderful forehand down the line but the movement of Tsitsipas is too good. He then follows in his drop shot and puts away the volley to get to 30-30.
Tsitsipas gets a break off the net-cord to get to deuce but Tiafoe finds the big serve down the middle. A mistake from Tsitsipas on a further deuce is followed by Tiafoe getting another big serve in play - and there’s the hold.
Tiafoe just needs to win this set to get himself into the match tiebreak.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 4-4 Frances Tiafoe*
Yep, this feels like it’s heading to a tiebreak. Tsitsipas starts with an ace and a forehand winner into open court moves him to 40-0.
Tiafoe pings one onto the baseline but can’t return a smart serve from Tsitsipas out wide.
Laver Cup 2022: *Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 3-4 Frances Tiafoe
The following hold to love from Tiafoe is the latest sign that he’s ridden out the worst of the storm. He’s starting to get some joy on the serve and volley.
Tsitsipas still looks incredibly focused.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 3-3 Frances Tiafoe*
After battling to get his hold, it must be disheartening for Tiafoe to see Tsitsipas quickly get to 40-0. Tsitsipas finally makes an unforced error on a volley at the net, and it’s followed by a backhand that clips the net-cord and bounces out. The ace gets him the game though.
Laver Cup 2022: *Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 2-3 Frances Tiafoe
Tsitsipas holds to love and there’s immediate pressure on Tsitsipas as he gets the opening point on the Tiafoe serve. The Greek’s return clips the baseline, which Tiafoe challanges, but he gets it wrong to look at 0-30.
Tiafoe responds with an ace, and then another well placed serve down the middle, followed by the forehand winner.
Tsitsipas slips a little on the next return and Tiafoe puts the winner past him. Tiafoe goes long on the next point though, bringing up the first deuce.
But Tiafoe does get out of it! Two battling serves and volleys later he gets his hold. He lets out a roar, maybe that gets him fired up.
He also says something about Greek yoghurt that I didn’t quite hear, but Taylor Fritz thought it was funny.
Laver Cup 2022: *Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 1-2 Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe’s next service game is a bit scrappy, but he gets the hold with the big serve down the middle. He needs to get himself fired up now after being blasted off the court in the first set.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 1-1 Frances Tiafoe*
Now, a first look for Tiafoe on the Tsitsipas serve on 0-30. Tiafoe then had a slight window at the backhand pass down the line, but it’s just out.
Tsitsipas then reads Tiafoe’s pass at the net, the volley is crisp and after, he steps inside the baseline to power away another winner. Nicely done.
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