LONDON – Félix Auger-Aliassime lost 7-6 (11), 4-6, 10-7 to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the first singles match of the day at the Laver Cup on Saturday.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked 13th in the world, suffered her third loss in four career matches on the ATP circuit against Berrettini, ranked 15th in the world.
This gave the European team a 4-2 lead over the international team.
That match will be followed by those between Britain’s Cameron Norrie and American Taylor Fritz and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and American Frances Tiafoe later this afternoon.
Norrie will appear on court in black after Spain’s Rafael Nadal withdrew. “Rafa” explained that he had to leave the competition on Saturday to be with his wife, who is soon to give birth to their first child.
A doubles match between Berretini and Djokovic against American Jack Sock and Australian Alex de Minaur will close the day’s action at London’s O2 Arena.
This team competition was created by Roger Federer’s management company. The 41-year-old Swiss made his swan song on Friday night in doubles with his eternal rival, Nadal. The holder of 20 career Grand Slam titles and Nadal lost 4-6, 7-6(2), 11-9 to Shock and Tiafoe.
