Nick Kyrgios of Team World, playing partner of Jack Sock plays a backhand in their doubles match against Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Team Europe during Day Two of the Laver Cup 2019 at Palexpo on September 21, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Laver Cup will see six players from the rest of the World competing against their counterparts from Europe. Team World is captained by John McEnroe and Team Europe is captained by Bjorn Borg. The tournament runs from September 20-22. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
Laver Cup: Sock and Kyrgios give Team World hope
A doubles win for Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock gave Team World hope of hauling in Team Europe in the 2019 Laver Cup in Switzerland.
Nick Kyrgios of Team World, playing partner of Jack Sock plays a backhand in their doubles match against Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Team Europe during Day Two of the Laver Cup 2019 at Palexpo on September 21, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Laver Cup will see six players from the rest of the World competing against their counterparts from Europe. Team World is captained by John McEnroe and Team Europe is captained by Bjorn Borg. The tournament runs from September 20-22. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for Laver Cup)
The doubles pairing of Jack Sock and Nick Kyrgios defeated Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas as Team World cut Europe’s lead to 7-5 heading into the final day of the Laver Cup in Geneva.
Earlier in the day Nadal had seen off Canda’s Milos Raonic but Sock and Kyrgios won Saturday’s doubles 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 which cut the Europeans lead to two points.
“There was a lot on the line there,” said Sock. “We obviously wanted to keep the overall weekend close. Being down 9-3 is different than 7-5.
“We’ve had so many chances this weekend, it’s been crazy, so I think the score could be the other way round.
“I thought it was a high quality match and we’re definitely happy to get the win.”
Nadal forced out of Laver Cup
Nadal, who won his 19th Grand Slam title in New York, was forced to withdraw from the event on Sunday with a hand injury.
“I feel very lucky,” said Nadal after said after beating Roanic. “I think he deserved that first set for sure. Later in the match I think I started to play a little bit better.”
Dominic Thiem will take Nadal’s place on Team Europe for a final day singles match against Aussie bad-boy Kyrgios.
“I’ve had an amazing time playing here at the Laver Cup and I’m so disappointed I’m not able to play again today, but I have some inflammation in my hand and I need to rest,” said the Mallorcan.
“The atmosphere has been amazing here in Geneva and of course I’m going to be there for all my teammates and do everything I can to support them and help Team Europe win the Laver Cup,” he said, promising to remain with the team for Sunday’s finale for moral support.
Switzerland’s Roger Federer beat Kyrgios 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 10-7 to the delight of his 17,000-strong home crowd in Geneva.
“The crowd could feel it, I could feel it. I needed to get some energy going but you can’t do that if you don’t play any good shots and Nick was playing very well,” said Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
“I was just trying to stay focused. If you can turn the momentum, the crowd gets back into it and I need some earplugs next time, it was just phenomenal.”
The Bjorn Borg-led holders had seen Team World draw level with a singles victory for John Isner over Zverev.
Isner fought back from a set down to beat the German 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 10-1 and haul Team World level at 3-3 after Europe led by two points after the opening day.
The scoring system sees one point awarded for each win on the first day, two points given for each victory on the second day, and three points on offer in each match on Sunday’s final day.
This year is the first time the tournament has been played as part of the ATP Tour.
Europe won the 2018 edition of the interncontinental event 13-8 in Chicago.
