SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday September 24, 2021

 
John Isner

John Isner took charge of the doubles court on Friday at Laver Cup to save Team World from a Sweep.

Photo Source: Getty

Team Europe – thanks to wins by Casper Ruud, Matteo Berrettini and Andrey Rublev, was in firm control of proceedings on Day 1 of Laver Cup at TD Garden in Boston, but John Isner helped Team World flip the script and rally to scrape out a much-needed point in the doubles nightcap.

Tennis Express

Isner and Shapovalov rallied to win 17 of the final 20 points as they toppled Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 7-6(2), 10-1 to close Day 1 of the 2021 Laver Cup at a 3-1 deficit.

LAVER CUP DAY 1 RESULTS

Match 1: Casper Ruud d. Reilly Opelka, 6-3, 7-6(4)
Match 2: Matteo Berrettini d. Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-7(3), 7-5, 10-8
Match 3: Andrey Rublev d. Diego Schwartzman, 4-6, 6-3, 11-9
Match 4: John Isner and Denis Shapovalov d. Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 7-6(2), 10-1

"In an atmosphere like this it is easy to get pumped up," Isner told the crowd after the win. "We were down 3-0. I kept telling Denis and Denis kept telling me, we have to out-energy these guys. We didn't want to go down 4-0."

After Isner and Shapovalov squandered a break lead for Team World in the second set things looked grim, but Isner took matters into his own hands and played some of the most dominant tennis of his career for a 20-point stretch, as Shapovalov rode his coattails to the finish line.


The victory helps Team World draw closer, and they’ll have more opportunities on Saturday, when point totals per match rise from one to two.

"We've been in this situation before," Isner said. "All of these guys on Europe, they are top-10 for a reason, they play the big points very well. We were just a little bit unlucky in singles. We'll take our cuts tomorrow, we need good energy, a good atmosphere, and we'll see what we can do."

“Honestly I think the credits go big time to John," Shapovalov said. "The guy played incredibly today,” Shapovalov said. “He carried me after a couple of those misses and he really helped lift my game up as well."

On Saturday at Laver Cup, Stefanos Tsitsipas will kick off the Day session, with the Aussie hoping to bring Team World even in Boston.

Here’s the full Day 2 OOP:

 

Latest News