Novak Djokovic scored his first Laver Cup victory on Saturday, playing on a high level to oust Frances Tiafoe in 72 minutes. Novak scored another win for Team Europe in the final match of the day alongside Matteo Berrettini, pushing the blue squad in front ahead of the decisive day.
Team World is back on track thanks to Felix Auger-Aliassime. Felix and Jack Sock prevailed over Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini on Sunday to grab three points for Team World and gain a boost ahead of the remaining three singles encounters.
The young Canadian was back on the court for the first of those, facing Novak Djokovic and hoping to send his team in front. Auger-Aliassime defeated Djokovic 6-3, 7-6, blasting 13 aces and dominating with his first serve. Novak broke Felix two times and gave serve away on three occasions to find himself on the losing side.
Djokovic continued where he left yesterday and broke the opponent in the encounter’s first game after Auger-Aliassime’s loose forehand.
Felix Auger-Aliassime bested Novak Djokovic in London.
The Serb forced the rival’s mistake in game two to confirm the break and open a 2-0 advantage.
Felix held at love in game three and pulled the break back in the next one after Novak’s double fault. Djokovic wasted a break chance in game seven and got broken at love in the next one after Auger-Aliassime’s return winner.
Felix served for the set at 5-3 and landed a winner at the net to wrap up the opener in 37 minutes. Djokovic lost the ground in those moments and netted a backhand at the start of the second set to find himself a set and a break down.
Auger-Aliassime served well in games two and four to open a 3-1 gap before losing serve at love in game six and bringing Djokovic back to 3-3. The youngster placed a drop shot winner in game seven and created two break chances.
Novak denied both and brought the game home for a 4-3 lead. Both players served well in the remaining games and introduced a tie break, a must-win one for Novak. Felix started with a mini-break after a lucky net cord winner , and Novak pulled it back in the next one.
The Serb netted a routine backhand to fall 3-1 behind, and the Canadian forced the rival’s mistake to build a 5-2 advantage. Djokovic sprayed a backhand error in the eighth point to offer his opponent two match points. Felix seized the second with a forehand winner to celebrate a notable victory and send Team World in front.