Federer leads Europe to thrilling win

PRAGUE, September 25 

Roger Federer won the inaugural Laver Cup for Team Europe on Sunday, beating back a fierce challenge from players from the rest of the world to claim the trophy in a dramatic final match of the weekend. Despite cruising through the first two days, the Europeans needed the last match to finalise the victory and show the dominance expected from a team featuring five of the world’s top seven players.

Federer delivered in a tight 4-6 7-6(6) 11-9 win over world No. 20 Nick Kyrgios, with the Australian pushing to the final point as he sought a win that would have forced an overtime doubles match to decide the tournament. But Kyrgios squandered a chance at match point and then smashed the ball into the net to end the battle, spurring Federer’s European teammates, led by top-ranked Rafael Nadal, to leap off the bench and embrace the Swiss at the net. “I was looking at getting ready maybe for doubles at the end... But I got it done,” Federer said.  

An earlier victory from German Alexander Zverev also helped fight off the last-day comeback from Team World, which entered the day 9-3 down after dropping six of the first eight matches. With matches worth three points on Sunday — versus two on Saturday and one on Friday — the group battled back with Americans John Isner and Jack Sock downing Croatian Marin Cilic and Czech Tomas Berdych. World No. 17 Isner then rattled Nadal from the beginning and delivered a barrage of 23 aces and several forceful winners and drop shots to beat the Spaniard. 

Federer then played hero, battling back after dropping the first set. — Reuters

Final score

Europe 15-9 Team World

Results day 3

Sock/Isner bt Berdych/Cilic 7-6(5) 7-6(6)

Zverev bt Querrey 6-4 6-4

Isner bt Nadal 7-5 7-6(1)

Federer bt Kyrgios 4-6 7-6(6) 11-9