Laver Cup: Kyrgios, Sock keep Team World alive

Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock have kept Team World within reach of Team Europe heading into the final day of the Laver Cup with victory in Saturday’s doubles rubber.

A pumped-up Kyrgios and Sock teamed up to overcome Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 [10-6], securing two crucial points to leave the overall score at 7-5 in favour of the Europeans.

“Our whole team is coming together and we’re going to ride this momentum into day three,” said Kyrgios, who is 3-0 in Laver Cup doubles with Sock.

Trailing by a mini-break for 4-3 in the deciding super tiebreaker, Kyrgios and Sock played brilliant tennis to win six points in a row, locking up victory soon after.

“That’s one of the best 10-point tiebreakers I’ve ever seen a doubles team play, and they needed to because Rafa and Stefanos wanted it bad,” Team World captain John McEnroe said.

“It gives us some momentum going into tomorrow.”

The third annual Laver Cup will be decided on Sunday by a doubles match and then three singles matches – each worth three points with 13 needed for overall victory.

Earlier on Saturday, Roger Federer and Nadal won their singles matches to open up a four-point advantage for Team Europe, after John Isner had drawn Team World level with victory over Alexander Zverev.

Using some courtside coaching from team captain Bjorn Borg and Nadal, Federer maintained his 100 per cent Laver Cup record against Kyrgios when he rallied and raised his game in the decisive super-tiebreaker to beat the Australian star 6-7(5) 7-5 [10-7] in the afternoon session.

Playing in front of 17,000 fans in Geneva, home favourite Federer beat Kyrgios for the third time in as many editions of the event.

“It was really close that first set so it was tough to lose,” 20-times grand slam winner Federer said.

“The crowd could feel it, I could feel it. I needed to get some energy going but you can’t do that if you don’t play any good shots and Nick was playing very well. I was just trying to stay focused.

“If you can turn the momentum, the crowd gets back into it and I need some earplugs next time, it was just phenomenal.”

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Nadal opened the evening session by fending off a host of break points to beat Milos Raonic 6-3 7-6(1).

Canadian Raonic finally converted a break point at the ninth attempt only for Nadal to hit straight back in the next game and then dominate the tiebreaker.

Isner fought back from a set down to defeat Alexander Zverev 6-7(2) 6-4 [10-1].