@Sportshorn
Prague, Czech Republic
The first ever Laver Cup kicked off today at the O2 arena in Prague, Czech Republic and what a spectacle it was. Never in the history of tennis have we seen a collection of the games greats in one venue at the same time playing in a team competition. Add in a unique black court and a packed 17-thousand seat arena and it made for quite the start to the afternoon.
After video tributes, the guest of honour Rod Laver was introduced along with Captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. Then the World Team players were brought out one by one followed by members of Team Europe. In an interesting twist Roger Federer who started the event in honour of Laver, was the second last player introduced and drew the loudest cheer. Instead it was Rafael Nadal who was the last player to come out. Fitting, however, given his recent US Open victory and World No. 1 status. Czech native Tomas Berdych also received a warm round of applause as well.
The arena was packed for Day 1 with only a few seats available. The merchandise booths were booming with sales selling everything from t-shirts and coffee mugs to towels and Laver Cup tennis balls with the event logo on them.
The first match of the day between Marin Cilic and Frances Tiafoe, who was a late fill in for an injured Juan Martin Del Potro, didn’t look to be too exciting a match on paper but it turned out to be quite entertaining.
There wasn’t a single break of serve between the two players in the opening set with Cilic winning a tiebreak 7-3 after an errant Tiafoe backyard error.
The second set was good as well with both players breaking each other once each but it was Cilic in the end dominating another tiebreak winning it 7-0 and winning the match in straight sets. After one hour and 47 minutes Cilic gave Team Europe the first point of the event.
Also entertaining during the match was watching the other players from both teams looking on. In a specially designed “lounge style” area, members of both Team Europe and Team World were courtside, able to “hang out” and watch their teammates in action. A rare glimpse of tennis players from different countries interacting with their peers in a team style format. The most animated were Nick Kyrgios and Roger Federer. Kyrgios was seen dancing and laughing with his good pals Jack Sock and Thanasi Kokkinakas (alternate player) during the opening match enjoying the relaxed atmosphere off the court.
Federer, clearly the leader of his group, was on his feet for much of the match fist pumping and clapping at during most of the points won by his teammate.
If you thought for a minute the Laver Cup was going to be gimmicky or exhibition style think again. “This is not exhibition,” said Cilic after his opening win. “We are 100 percent into it”
The second match of the day was also extremely competitive. The first set between John Isner for Team World and Dominic Thiem for Team Europe had some highly entertaining tennis. In true Isner fashion, the opener went to a tiebreak and after one hour he managed to sneak out a hard fought 15-13 win.
The second set was more of the same, another tiebreak was needed, this time with Thiem getting off to a big lead and then winning it 7-2.
At the Laver Cup a ten point match tiebreaker is being used to decide a winner instead of a longer traditional set. Thiem won the first one of the event 10-7 giving Team Europe another point and a 2-0 lead after the first session.
A very entertaining start to the Laver Cup and if it’s anything like the first two matches, we should be in for a lot more great tennis.
