Laver Cup 2022 LIVE: Frances Tiafoe and Team World stun Europe and Roger Federer to win tournament
Team World produced a stunning upset as they swept all three matches on Sunday, with Felix Auger-Aliassime beating Novak Djokovic and Tiafoe defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas
Team World produced a stunning comeback on the final day to shock Team Europe and win the Laver Cup for the first time, denying Roger Federer on the final tournament of his career.
The World team, who had lost all four previous editions of the Laver Cup, needed to win three out of four matches to defeat the European team but swept a dramatic day to upset the odds at the O2 Arena in London. The script was flipped in style following the opening two matches of the day. After Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini were beaten in the doubles, Felix Auger-Aliassime produced a stunning performance in the singles to defeat Novak Djokovic 6-3 7-6.
It left the World needing just one victory to lift the Laver Cup, and Frances Tiafoe produced it with a thrilling comeback victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas, in which he saved four match points and won two tiebreaks. It came after Federer waved a tearful farewell to tennis following his emotional defeat alongside Rafael Nadal on the opening night, on what was a special weekend of tennis.
Relive the action from the final day of the Laver Cup, below:
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
Tiafoe gets the mini-break and thunders an ace to lead 6-4!
AND TIAFOE DOES IT AGAIN! This is some of the most incredible shot-making I have ever seen!
Tiafoe first finds an unbelievable curling lob. Tsitsipas replies with a tweener but then Tiafoe produces a magical forehand past Tsitsipas! It’s so, so good from Tiafoe!
And he leads 8-4!
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
Tsitsipas goes big on the Tiafoe second serve and is close to the winner, but it’s a gift for the American.
Tsitsipas responds with a big serve out wide. Ace. 4-4.
WHAT A POINT! WHAT A POINT FROM TIAFOE!
He brings the house down with a stunning pick-up volley on the run! How did he find that angle?! Incredible!
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
The Laver Cup is on the line here and the World have never had a better chance of winning.
Tiafoe outlasts Tsitsipas on the next lengthy rally, as the Greek nets. Tiafoe pumps his fist. What a fighter he is. 2-2.
Tiafoe goes long against the Tsitsipas serve but Tsitsipas then sends another backhand flying off, miles out. 3-3.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
That’s incredible - and now we’re onto the Laver Breaker, first to 10 points. Tiafoe already did that in the previous tiebreak, which lasted longer than the first set! Tiafoe’s tiebreak record is simply incredible and the momentum is suddenly with the World.
Tsitsipas gets off to a great start though, taking the first two points as Tiafoe nets on the forehand on the run. He slams down an ace. 2-1.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-7 Frances Tiafoe - World win second set!
WHAT A SHOT FROM TIAFOE! He salvages a backhand pass from the depths! On the run, he lands the winner onto the line!
Set point on serve! Serve, volley, and it’s on the line! It’s in by 6mm! Tiafoe takes the tiebreak after saving four match points!
UNBELIEVABLE!
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-6 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
Tsitsipas gets Tiafoe on the run again - and the American drifts a lob out of play. Match point again.
But Tsitsipas blinks once more! He cannot close this out and the nerves are showing! A backhand goes long. 10-10
Another thrilling rally, neither player wanting to make the mistake, but Tiafoe puts a backhand into the net! Match point Tsitsipas, on serve.
And oh my goodness! He shanks the backhand with crosscourt wide open!
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-6 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
What a shot from Tsitsipas! Djokovic raises his arm! That was a beauty, a one-handed backhand that dipped perfectly over the net and passed Tiafoe. Match point!
But Tiafoe cannot be denied! He moves in, after Tsitsipas goes short, and then cuts out the passing shot with a volley at the net! Tiafoe’s guts, wow.
It’s 9-9
Federer is urging Tsitsipas to slow down his serves.
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-6 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
Tiafoes loves that. Now can he get a set point to put the pressure on Tsitsipas?
He does! Another brilliant point, as Tiafoe finds the slice and spin and drop shot to catch out Tsitsipas at the net! Set point.
No! Straight into the net from Tiafoe on the return. But then the forehand from Tsitsipas drifts wide! Set point again!
But Tiafoe has put too much on it! He overcooks the forehand from just inside the baseline! 8-8
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-6 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
Tiafoe won all seven tiebreaks he played in reaching the US Open semi-finals last month...
And now Tsitsipas nets on the backhand! The advantage goes back to Team World and Tiafoe raises his arms to the crowd.
Tsitsipas slips but regains his footing before coming in to dispatch the short ball for a winner.
Tiafoe finds the corner and then the smash but Tsitsipas somehow stays in it! Tiafoe keeps his composure - then forces the mistake from Tsitsipas.
Ace from Tsitsipas! And then a passing shot with Tiafoe at the net! 6-5, and a match point for Tsitsipas on the Tiafoe serve.
Wow... what a point! Extraordinary - it went on and on but Tiafoe digs in, and then outlasts Tsitsipas! He fights on! 6-6
Laver Cup 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1 6-6 Frances Tiafoe - Tiebreak
Tsitsipas pumps his first as he comes into Tiafoe’s drop shot and puts the forehand winner past him! A big point against serve, but Tsitsipas then throws away the advantage with a loose backhand long. Tiafoe then charges following his return but Tsitsipas finds the passing shot! He leads 2-1.
Tsitsipas goes long and Tiafoe has really dug in to make this awkward, winning both of the next points on serve. Tsitsipas hangs one up and then finds the forehand into Tiafoe’s feet!
3-3 at the change!
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