Norway’s Casper Ruud gave Team Europe the lead by beating Rest of the World Jack Sock (6-4, 5-7, 10-7) on Friday in Roger Federer’s inaugural Laver Cup. . .
In four previous editions, Europe had never lost the opening match in five editions and the tradition was honored by the world No.2.
He grabbed his opponent’s serve from the first face-off of the match, before seeing the American fight back by canceling the break when he served for the set at 5-3.
But a new effort from the Norwegian allowed him to take the first set (6-4) in just over 40 minutes.
The second set was very tight until 5-5 and an incredible black hole from Rudd who lost 8 of the next 9 points against a Sock who was moving better and better on the court and alternating power and touch to level at one set all round ( 6-4, 5-7).
In the super tiebreak of the third set, Sock initially looked to be on his way to a 3-0 lead, before losing 6 points in a row, including a break after a lob between Rude’s legs, to make it 3-2 to him. , which was also the final turning point of the match (6-4, 5-7, 10-7).
Sock will return in the evening, alongside Frances Tiafoe, for the much-anticipated doubles match where Roger Federer, paired with Rafael Nadal, will end his career during the evening session.
Before that, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will face Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman and local icon Andy Murray will challenge Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
