Google News On this day: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer victorious as doubles partners
by JOVICA ILIC | VIEW 16985
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal kicked off their incredible rivalry in Miami 2004. After fighting for almost every notable trophy on the planet, Rafa and Roger stepped to the same side of the court on September 23, 2017, facing Jack Sock and Sam Querrey in Laver Cup in Prague.
The world's leading players forged the team for Team Europe on Saturday night and scored a 6-4, 1-6, 10-5 victory over the Americans to send Team Europe 9-3 in front ahead of the remaining four encounters of Sunday's program.
The great duo lost momentum in the second set, but they were super motivated to win this one, charging through the match tie break to bring the win home. Sock and Querrey had their chances to spoil Federer's and Nadal's party, facing only one break point in the entire clash (the one that cost them the opener) and creating nine break chances, seizing only two in the second set.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal scored their only doubles win at Laver Cup.
Despite a dominant role in the second set, Jack and Sam lost the ground in the match tie break and lost eight of the first nine points to fall into the hole with no way out.
Both teams played well on serve right from the start, with six easy holds before Sock got broken at 3-3 to send Team Europe ahead. Nadal served to confirm the break in game eight, and he and Roger had to play against four break chances, staying calm and repelling them all to cement the advantage.
Roger served out the opener in game ten for 6-4 after 39 minutes, pushing the proud owners of 35 Major titles closer to the finish line. Suddenly, Roger and Rafa lost their magic on the court in set number two, while their rivals raised their level to storm over the legends on the other side of the net.
Sock and Querrey broke Nadal in game four and did the same with Federer two games later to control the scoreboard and send the encounter into a deciding match tie break in under half an hour. In a manner of true champions, Federer and Nadal picked up their game again and raced into an 8-1 lead thanks to three mini-breaks on their tally.
Ready to fight, the Americans reduced the deficit to 9-5, but that was all we saw from them, as Rafa and Roger claimed the 15th point to seal the deal and celebrate their first and only victory on the same side of the court.