Europe has edge over the World

Prague (Czech Republic), Sept. 23: Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev won their opening singles to put Team Europe ahead of Team World after day one of the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague on Friday.

Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock then handed Team World their first point by beating Tomas Berdych and world number one Rafael Nadal in the day’s closing doubles rubber to round off the score at 3-1 for Europe.

With four matches a day — three singles and a doubles, the players can earn a point for each win on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday.

World number five Cilic beat 72nd-ranked Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/0) in the tournament opener.

The big-serving Croat and the 19-year-old American held on to their serves in the first set before earning a break apiece in the second, with Cilic showing better nerves in both tie-breakers.

Austrian Thiem then put Europe 2-0 ahead, beating world number 17 John Isner 6-7 (15/17), 7-6 (7/2), 10/8.

In a clash of the teams’ youngest players, the 20year-old world number four, Zverev, overpowered 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) in another rubber without breaks.

Wozniacki thrashes World No.1 Garbine

Tokyo; Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki flattened world number one Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-0 on Saturday to reach her fourth Pan Pacific Open tennis final. She will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who toppled Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-7, 6-4 in the other semi. Top seed Muguruza, playing her first tournament since reaching the top of the women’s world rankings, was blown off court in just under an hour. — AFP