Olympic tennis champion Alexander Zverev started with a defeat at the Laver Cup.
Despite winning the first set, Zverev had to admit defeat to American John Isner and Denis Shapovalov (Canada) 6: 4, 6: 7 (2: 7) and (1:10) in doubles with Italian Matteo Berrettini on Friday (local time) .
Nevertheless, Team Europe leads 3-1 against Team World.
For Zverev, the single against Isner continues this Saturday.
Before that, Team Europe had got off to a perfect start.
After the first three singles, the defending champion led 3-0 against Team Welt.
First, the Norwegian Casper Ruud prevailed against the American Reilly Opelka 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 4).
Then Berrettini wrestled the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in a high-class game in the champions tiebreak with 6: 7 (3: 7), 7: 5, 10: 8.
The game at the TD Garden in Boston lasted 2:52 hours.
In addition, the Russian Andrej Rublew defeated the Argentine Diego Schwartzman 4: 6, 6: 3 and (11: 9).
This means that the Europeans are attempting their fourth victory in the fourth edition of the duel against Team Welt.
Both teams each consist of six professionals and one substitute.
There are three singles and one doubles on each of the three days.
A win is worth one point on Friday, two points per game on Saturday and three on Sunday.
Whoever collects a total of 13 out of 24 points wins the Laver Cup.
In the previous year, the event was canceled due to the corona pandemic.
In 2019 the team from Europe triumphed, Zverev took the decisive points with victory in the individual over the Canadian Milos Raonic.
In Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the three long-time superstars in the industry are missing this year due to injuries or exhaustion.
Federer was at least a spectator in the TD Garden on Friday and was cheered by the spectators.