Google News Stefanos Tsitsipas on playing alongside Roger Federer: 'Every millennial's dream'
by JOVICA ILIC | VIEW 8788
The young guns do not have a chance to share the same side of the court with legendary players and their idols. Stefanos Tsitsipas joined forces with the 20-time Major winner Roger Federer at the 20219 Laver Cup in Geneva, describing the experience as 'every millennial's dream!' Tsitsipas and Federer played against Jack Sock and John Isner and suffered a 5-7, 6-4, 10-8 loss in an hour and 46 minutes to propel Team World 8-7 in front after the final day's first encounter.
Instead of Rafael Nadal, who withdrew with a wrist injury, Tsitsipas stepped in to play with Roger Federer for the first time, doing their best to beat the American pair but just falling short in the deciding match tie break.
There were two breaks on each side, and Jack and John stayed focused in the crucial moments to repel six out of eight chances offered to Roger and Stefanos and control the pace in the deciding set.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roger Federer shared the court at the 2019 Laver Cup.
Federer held at 15 in the first game with a service winner, followed by a comfortable hold from Isner, who leveled the score at 1-1 before the Americans broke the European team when Federer sprayed a volley mistake.
Roger and Stefanos pulled the break back instantly when Isner landed a volley long, and Federer fired an ace to bring the next game home at love for a 3-2 advantage. John stayed unbroken in game six after two deuces, and we saw five powerful holds after that before Sock served at 5-6.
The Americans wasted their chances and suffered a break after Federer's volley winner, as Team Europe grabbed the opener 7-5 in 45 minutes. Isner made an incredible reaction at the net in the second set's third game to earn a break for Team World, and Jack fended off a break chance in the next one to confirm the lead and put them in a comfortable position.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Isner defended two break opportunities and sealed the set with an ace to send the clash into the match tie break. The Americans forged a 7-4 lead before Federer bounced back with two winners to keep his team in touch and the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Jack responded with a service winner before Roger smashed a forehand winner to reduce the deficit to 8-7 and make things even more exciting. Sock's return winner pushed the red squad 9-7 ahead, and Federer saved the first match point after a volley winner at the net.
Isner landed a massive serve towards Tsitsipas in the 18th point to seal the deal and send Team World in front for the first time in three days before the remaining three clashes.