Alexander Zverev once again secured overall victory for the European selection against a world selection in the Laver Cup. The Hamburger won the decisive last single 6: 4, 3: 6, 10: 4 in the match tiebreak against the Canadian Milos Raonic. With that, the hosts also decided on the show 13:11 at the third edition. Zverev had already provided in the previous year in Chicago against the South African Kevin Anderson for the crucial points.
Zverev said after the game and thanked the top stars in his team: "Without Roger and Rafa, I would not have made it . " The day before he lost to John Isner.
For the second consecutive year, @AlexZverev wins the #LaverCup for #TeamEurope.
The world No.6 def. Milos Raonic 6-4 3-6 [10-4] in the deciding match to win the tournament 13-11. pic.twitter.com/91wKTQ3vwN
The final day for Team Europe did not start well. After Spain's US Open winner Rafael Nadal could not compete because of an inflammation in the hand, Roger Federer and Stefanos Tsitsipas gossamer lost their doubles against the US pair John Isner and Jack Sock. Then defeated the Austrian Dominic Thiem also after match-tiebreak 5: 7, 7: 6 (7: 3), 5:10 the US American Taylor Fritz.
This would have been enough for Team World to be a success from the last two singles, but first Swiss star Roger Federer, who initiated the show event with his management, sat down in front of the local fans 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 3). against Isner through.
Zverev then also had to win against the strong Raonic and also received tips from Nadal at the bank. Eight months after his bitter knockout round of 16 against the world ranking 24th Raonic at the Australian Open prevailed the 22-year-old North German in the end thanks to his larger playful class. After the transformed first match ball Zverev fell to the pitch, his teammates buried him under him.