Tsitsipas squares Laver Cup opening day

Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled Europe level 1-1 with the World side on Friday’s opening day of play at the Laver Cup in Berlin with his 6-1 6-4 defeat of Thanasi Kokkinakis.

The seventh edition of the Roger Federer-inspired team competition is a chance for Europe captain Byorn Brog to get a final win before handing over responsibilities next year to Yannick Noah.

World is set to lose captain John McEnroe,replaced by Andre Agassi.

The World side got away to the early lead as Argentine Francisco Cerundolo beat ninth-ranked Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4.

Tsitsipas needed just under 90 minutes to take victory, with the Greek labelling his effort “pretty solid” after defeating his Australian opponent.

“It was important for Team Europe, to get a point, we didn’t start very well this morning but I’m very happy that I contributed a point.

“I was trying to redeem myself and go out on the court and not just do it for myself but for my whole team.”

Tsitsipas, ranked 12th after a long residence in the top 10, is playing the event for a fourth time.

McEnroe’s World is working for a third consecutive title after losing the first four editions of the event.

Tsitsipas took a 4-0 lead over Kokkinakis, a former alternate, in the opening set 

as he won the opener in less than half an hour.

Tsitsipas pressed home his advantage with a break to start the second set and then fought off three break-back chances and secured victory on the Aussie’s forehand error on match point.

In the opening rubber Ruud lost momentum midway through the opening set, which Cerundolo took. The Scandinavian was broken three times as he went down to defeat to put Europe into the early hole.

“It was tough,” Ruud said. “I had a chance for an early lead but was a bit unfortunate, but that’s the way tennis sometimes goes. 

“Today I was stuck between staying back and being more aggressive, and I left it too late to break him.”