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: Murray / Berrettini 6-2 Sock / Auger-Aliassime* - Europe win first set
Murray will serve for the first set and the Brit is not hanging around as an ace down the middle brings up three set points. Sock’s return goes long and Europe wrap up an excellent opening set, with the Murray and Berrettini partnership looking strong.
Murray now gets some treatment on the knee. There’s lots of laughter at Murray’s expense after his fall.
Laver Cup 2022: *Murray / Berrettini 5-2 Sock / Auger-Aliassime
And now brilliant returning from Berrettini! He puts Sock’s serve right past him with the angled forehand winner.
Ah! What has happened here?! Murray and Berrettini go for the same ball and Murray trips over Berrettini, falling to the ground and then stumbling back down. He looks like he’s grazed his knee and there’s some skin left on the court... Federer is caught wincing courtside!
Europe still managed to win the point, as Berrettini droped a lovely volley at the net. World get back to deuce but Murray then splits Auger-Aliassime and Sock with athe forehand winner.
Another break point - and Europe take it! Berrettini crushes a forehand at Auger-Aliassime and the Canadian can’t keep it in play.
Murray’s still got a big smile on his face despite there being some blood on his knee.
Laver Cup 2022: Murray / Berrettini 4-2 Sock / Auger-Aliassime*
Brilliant serving from Berrettini. In a blink of an eye Europe hold to love. There’s an ace in there and a swatted volley winner from Murray.
Laver Cup 2022: *Murray / Berrettini 3-2 Sock / Auger-Aliassime
There is a swift response from Team World as they hold to love off Auger-Aliassime’s serve. There will be some at the O2 who might be disappointed that Murray isn’t playing doubles with Djokovic today, after the former childhood friends admitted it would be fun to join each other on the doubles court again. Instead, Europe captain Bjorn Bjorg has saved Djokovic for the singles.
Laver Cup 2022: Murray / Berrettini 3-1 Sock / Auger-Aliassime*
Murray’s second serve is a bit of concern for Europe but he finds a lovely kick down the middle to get to 40-15. Berrettini then follows up the serve down the middle to swat away the volley. Nice hold.
Laver Cup 2022: *Murray / Berrettini 2-1 Sock / Auger-Aliassime
Murray groans after a forehand from midcourt finds the net at 15-15 but Sock hands an unforced error back. At 30-30, Murray then guides a lovely return down the line and Auger-Aliassime can’t keep the volley in play despite getting his racket onto it.
And there’s the break! Europe strike early.
Laver Cup 2022: Murray / Berrettini 1-1 Sock / Auger-Aliassime*
Berrettini serves first for Europe - his serve is probably the biggest at the tournament - and the Italian gets a nice hold off the net-cord after Sock returned Murray’s smash. Sock also coughed up an error on the forehand.
Laver Cup 2022: *Murray / Berrettini 0-1 Sock / Auger-Aliassime
Felix Auger-Aliassime will serve first for Team World and faces some early pressure as Berrettini’s return clips the net and passes him, before the Canadian goes long. World get back to 30-30 but Sock jumps in as Murray and Auger-Aliassime exchange forehands and puts away the volley. The American then puts away the smash as World get off the mark.
*denotes next server
Laver Cup 2022: Murray / Berrettini vs Sock / Auger-Aliassime
The final warm-ups are underway. Murray will be pleased to get another chance out there. He has a good doubles record from Davis Cup but the partnership with Berrettini is something new.
Sock is the doubles specialist for Team World while Auger-Aliassime has doubles experience representing Canada in the Davis Cup too.
Remember, this match is worth three points, triple what was on offer on the opening day. It will either be 11-4 or 8-7 by the end of play, quite the swing...
Laver Cup 2022: Murray / Berrettini vs Sock / Auger-Aliassime
The Europe team may no longer have Rafael Nadal - and technically Roger Federer - but there are still a host of stars. Novak Djokovic will play in the opening singles match, after Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini. Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud are the anchors. Cameron Norrie, drawn in to replace Nadal, has the day off.
Federer comepletes the line-up. His presence remains a huge boost ahead of the final day of the tournament and his entrance blows the roof off once again.
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