Tiafoe stuns Tsitsipas to secure historic Laver Cup victory for Team World

Tiafoe stuns Tsitsipas to secure historic Laver Cup victory for Team World

by Kadir Macar

Last updated

Ahead of the third match on Day 3, Team World was only one match away from winning the 2022 Laver Cup and so both Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe faced a big challenge.

After Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Sock defeated Matteo Berrettini and Andy Murray in doubles, and the Canadian then played yet another match to stun 21-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, Team World led 10-8 and was only one win away from winning the 2022 Laver Cup.

Team Europe won all four Laver Cup events ever played and they certainly didn't want to stop their dominance in London. And Stefanos Tsitsipas was showing that since the first set started. After both players traded successful games on their serves, the Greek won 20 out of 22 rallies played and totally dominated the first set to win it 6-1 in 21 minutes.

In the second set, both players were really dominant on their serve. While the Greek hit 7 aces, his opponent hit 3 and both players hit many more winners than unforced errors. Tsitsipas produced 21 winners and made only 6 unforced errors while Tiafoe hit a winner 18 times and also made only six mistakes.

Also because of this almost perfect display by both, the second set reached a tie-break. At 6-5, Tsitsipas had his first chance to end the match, but he couldn't do it. That was followed by two set points by the American, but he also didn't use his chances and so after Matteo Berrettini and Felix Auger-Aliassime played a 24-point tie-break, these two were on the path to do the same.

Tsitsipas had three more match points, but he couldn't remain calm and eventually, Tiafoe won the second set tie-break 13-11. After battling in a tie-break that lasted longer than the first set, players were set to battle it out in the match tie-break.

Although the Greek player was first to break, he soon lost his advantage and after another mini-break from Tiafoe, Team World was only three points from winning their first Laver Cup as the American led 7-4.

Tiafoe continued to produce exceptional level to eventually win the match 1-6, 7-6(11), 10-8 and after losing in Prague, Chicago, Geneva and Boston, he secured the first ever Laver Cup trophy for Team World in London by winning 13-8 overall.

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