The standard of the Laver Cup discipline comes into concentrate on day two, with a singles lineup filled with gamers from the world’s prime ten.
With the competition poised at 2-2 after Friday’s matches and at this time’s matches value two factors, all six singles gamers in motion on Saturday are ranked within the prime 17. It ensures tennis of the very best high quality.
Match 1: Daniil Medvedev v Frances Tiafoe
Tiafoe has been Crew World’s talisman within the Laver Cup. Who might neglect his emotional win over Stefanos Tsitsipas within the penultimate match of the 2022 competitors in London, when he saved 4 match factors earlier than sealing Crew World’s first-ever Laver Cup title?
The dangerous information for No.16-ranked Tiafoe is that he has by no means crushed world No.5 Medvedev, in 5 earlier matches; the truth is he has solely taken one set off the Muscovite, and that was pre-pandemic. The excellent news for Tiafoe is that they’ve by no means performed indoors, nor in a workforce competitors, so the American can view the slate as clear.
However Medvedev has been a mannequin of consistency this 12 months; he was runner-up on the Australian Open, a semifinalist at Wimbledon, quarterfinalist on the US Open and has gone far in nearly each match he has performed. That may make him a slight favourite in many individuals’s eyes to provide Europe an early lead, however betting in opposition to Tiafoe within the Laver Cup is all the time perilous.
Match 2: Carlos Alcaraz v Ben Shelton
Maybe essentially the most eagerly awaited match, one which many contemplate could possibly be a significant remaining earlier than lengthy. Alcaraz already has 4 Grand Slam singles titles, whereas Shelton’s highly effective left-handed sport has many pondering he’s a significant champion of the long run.
The 2 have performed simply as soon as earlier than; that was in Toronto 13 months in the past when Alcaraz received in two tight units. If Alcaraz can faucet into the shape that noticed him win Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, and declare silver on the Olympics, will probably be onerous for Shelton to win. However Shelton has an awesome workforce pedigree from his time with the Florida Gators US faculty workforce, and revels within the massive event.
Match 3: Alexander Zverev v Taylor Fritz
That is extremely anticipated match pits the world No.2 in opposition to the No.7, with each gamers within the prime 5 within the race to the ATP Finals. Each are in nice type after terrific runs on the US Open, the place they performed one another within the quarterfinals, Fritz successful in 4 units having additionally crushed his German rival at Wimbledon within the fourth spherical.
Fritz says his US Open was most satisfying as a result of he felt he by no means performed his finest tennis but nonetheless reached his first main remaining. After a break, and a victorious doubles partnering Ben Shelton on Friday evening, the 26-year-old could possibly be able to step up a stage. That may make it powerful for Zverev, however he has dwelling benefit.
This can be their eleventh assembly in a head-to-head that goes again greater than eight years. They’re stage at 5-5, having performed within the final two majors, and on all surfaces this 12 months. However they’ve by no means performed indoors, so this can be a primary and will effectively go all the way down to the wire.
Match 4: Casper Ruud/Stefanos Tsitsipas v Ben SheltonAlejandro Tabilo
Any match involving Ben Shelton has electrical energy, and the 21-year-old American would be the livewire on this fascinating doubles. Shelton kinds a scratch all-leftie pairing with Alejandro Tabilo, the Chilean raised in Canada who performed his half in an excellent match in opposition to Grigor Dimitrov on Friday evening, narrowly shedding on two tiebreaks. This can be the right pick-me-up for Tabilo, who wants a win after a run of what he describes as “tough matches”. Tabilo received his first doubles title this season at Santiago with Barrios Vera, and was runner-up at Mallorca with Diego Hildago, having received the singles title in the identical week on grass.
Ruud and Tsitsipas shouldn’t be underestimated. Tsitsipas received his first ATP doubles title just below a 12 months in the past, partnering together with his brother Petros to victory in Antwerp in what he described as “one of the emotional achievements of my tennis profession” given it was a household triumph. Ruud shouldn’t be recognized for his doubles outcomes, however his serve is underestimated and his volleys are stable, so whereas the fireworks will most likely come from the Crew World aspect, it appears a really open match.