Following in the footsteps of Prague and Chicago, Team Europe and Team World wasted no time bringing the drama to Geneva in the opening session of this year’s Laver Cup.

Jack Sock became the first player from Team World to win an opening day Laver Cup singles match on Friday, defeating Fabio Fognini 6-1, 7-6(3) in front of a packed crowd at Palexpo. The American, who missed six months of the season with a broken thumb, saved all six break points he faced to claim his first singles victory of 2019 and draw his side level with Team Europe at 1-1.

“I’m sure everyone here is surprised I won a singles match. It has been a while,” said Sock. “I had thumb surgery in February and I was out for six months with it. There have been few tournaments and few matches this year, but for some reason the Laver Cup seems to bring the best out of everyone here.”

Sock needed just 89 minutes to earn his sixth win in nine Laver Cup encounters. The 26-year-old, who owns a combined 18 tour-level trophies in singles and doubles, fired 10 forehand winners and won 11 of 18 net points in an attacking display against the reigning Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters titlist. After a clinical serving performance in the second set, Sock claimed victory on his first match point at 6/3 in the tie-break as Fognini failed to control his service return.

“I came out with a lot of energy, stuck to my game,” said Sock. “I’ve played great singles before, so I know it is in me. It is an amazing feeling to bring it out for these guys today, not just myself.”

The 2017 Rolex Paris Masters champion will return to court in the final match of the opening day. Following Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz’s singles clash, Sock and Denis Shapovalov will take on Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev in the first doubles match of the tournament.

Sock’s victory was a much-needed boost for Team World following Dominic Thiem’s dramatic Match Tie-break victory against Shapovalov in the opening match of the tournament. Thiem saved three match points to overcome the Canadian 6-4, 5-7, 13-11 and improve to 2-0 in the team event.

In Thiem’s only previous Laver Cup match, the Austrian also needed a Match Tie-break to defeat John Isner in Prague.

“It’s a really special thing with the tie-break in the third,” said Thiem. “It creates lots of close moments and match points on either side. It’s also a little bit of luck at the end.”

Thiem started the contest in fine form, dropping just two points behind his first serve (16/18) and claiming nine of 13 points behind his second serve return to take a one-set lead after 35 minutes. But Shapovalov responded well, moving up the court in the second set to impose his game on the BNP Paribas Open champion and force a Match Tie-break.

Shapovalov rallied from 5/7 down to earn two match points at 9/7, but it was Thiem who played the pressure points with the greater conviction. The World No. 5 stepped inside the court to navigate his way out of trouble, attacking short balls before saving a third match point at 10/11. On his second match point, Thiem sealed the win as Shapovalov fired a cross-court forehand into the net.

Throughout the match, both players were well supported by their teammates at the side of the court. After claiming victory, Thiem acknowledged fellow Team Europe members for their support and helpful advice in crucial moments.

“I guess there is some tennis knowledge behind my bench,” said Thiem. “It is a great honour to be with them, to receive hints from them [about] how I can do better in the match.”

#NextGenATP Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas made his Laver Cup debut a memorable one by overcoming an equipment malfunction and a determined Taylor Fritz to prevail 6-2, 1-6, 10-7. Tsitsipas’ shoelace broke at 2/2 in the Match Tie-break, but the 21-year-old made the surprising decision to continue playing for the remainder of the game.

”I didn’t want to stop the match. That was quite tough because I was scared I was going to lose my shoe during the point,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview. “The momentum changed in the third-set tie-break. I found my rhythm again and had a clear mind on the court.”

Tsitsipas raced to a 5/2 lead in the Match Tie-break, but Fritz responded with a series of aggressive forehand runs to go on a four-point run. The American hit his first double fault of the match at 7/7 and Tsitsipas, No. 7 in the ATP Rankings, fired two big serves to give Team Europe a 2-1 lead.

Did You Know?
The Laver Cup will leave a legacy in Geneva, with the donation of 100,000 CHF contributing to the development of a new rehabilitation facility for children.

Fourth-seeded Croatian Borna Coric booked a place in his third ATP Tour semi-final of the year on Friday with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory against eighth seed Casper Ruud of Norway.

Prior to this week, the 22-year-old Coric had not won consecutive matches since June. But he broke three times and improved to 25-15 on the year. Coric also reached the last four at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (l. to Federer) in February and at the Libema Open in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Mannarino) in June.

“I didn’t start very well. I thought he was playing much better than me,” Coric said. “But then I started to play much better, also much more aggressive, and I think in the end, that paid off.”

Ruud, despite falling short of his first Top 30 win (0-12), bolstered his chances of qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals, to be held 5-9 November in Milan, by making his first non-clay ATP Tour quarter-final of the season. Ruud is currently in sixth place in the ATP Race To Milan, which will determine seven of the eight players at the 21-and-under event.

Coric will next play Joao Sousa of Portugal, who beat sixth seed and 2010 champion Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6(8), 6-2. Sousa saved all four break points to make his second ATP Tour semi-final of the season (Gstaad). In their only FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting, Coric beat Sousa in three sets in June at the grass-court NOVENTI OPEN in Halle.

“Today was another great day for me. I was able to play good tennis. I’m working very well with my slice. I was able to connect and to be comfortable with this shot, ” Sousa said.

It was exactly one year ago that Jamie Murray decided it was time to bring professional tennis back to his native Scotland. And ensure its presence for years to come.

At the time, Murray was in Glasgow for a Davis Cup tie against Uzbekistan. He approached Great Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association with the idea, spearheading the creation of a permanent fixture on the ATP Challenger Tour.

A few months earlier, the city hosted a Challenger at the modest and cozy Scotstoun Leisure Centre. While it was a step in the right direction, Murray was keen to see the tournament not just exist, but thrive as a premier tennis showcase in his homeland. And one that will see the game grow and attract a new generation of players and fans in Scotland.

This week, Murray made that dream a reality. The 33-year-old has been instrumental in the development and organisation of the tournament, taking a hands-on approach throughout the week. And did we mention that he is also competing in the doubles, teaming up with John-Patrick Smith as the top seeds. Needless to say, it’s been a rewarding, yet hectic week for the former No. 1.

“I’ve learned a lot about organising a tournament,” said Murray. “From the organisation to the logistics, the amount of money it costs. It’s been really interesting and a big learning experience. As a player, you make sure you have a practice court, balls and towels and you go play your match. To see from the other side what goes into it, it takes a lot of effort from a lot of people.”

That effort Murray refers to extends to himself as well. His passion and commitment to growing the game and making the tournament a success has been evident throughout the week.

Eight-hour stints on site and more hours away from the venue to promote the tournament. Clinics, meet-and-greets, autograph signings, radio station appearances, breakfasts, lunches, sponsor events and more clinics and meet-and-greets. On Saturday, the tournament shuttled up to Dunblane, where the draw ceremony was held in Murray’s hometown. Most importantly, there have been events with the local schoolchildren, including a visit to a primary school, Q&As and an impromptu hit on the tournament’s mini-tennis court.

Long days, with early wake-ups and late finishes. But, as Murray says, if it creates interest in the tournament and tennis in the region, it’s all worth it.

“There’s a lot going on. Many meet-and-greets and appearances. A few clinics and events with my mom off-site. It’s been busy and longer days than normal, but it’s fun. They are things you have to do to promote the event as best as you can. I want the event to go as well as it can and be as big a success as possible. Especially in its first year. We want to show it in its best light. You do what you can for that.”

Publicity is one thing, but being involved in the day-to-day operations of the tournament is a completely different entity. Murray has embraced that aspect as well. He met often with Stephen Farrow and George Donnelly, who are in charge of the LTA’s professional tournaments, in the lead-up to the event. They discussed everything from spectator seating to BBC’s broadcast coverage, as well as the presence of a masseuse for all players – free of charge.

And on the Sunday before the tournament, with his opening round match just a few days away, Murray was seen at the local convenience store purchasing garbage bins for the practice courts. All in a day’s work for the greatest doubles player in British tennis history.

“It’s been a busy week and there’s been a lot to do outside of just hitting tennis balls. But it’s been a lot of fun.”

The Huajin Securities Zhuhai Championships joins the ATP calendar as one of two ATP 250 tournaments, along with the Chengdu Open, to kick off the three-week Asian swing.

The inaugural Zhuhai tournament will welcome Top 10 stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Roberto Bautista Agut, who will continue their push to qualify for the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals, and former World No. 1 Andy Murray, who continues his singles comeback.

“I have always enjoyed playing in China and Zhuhai is meant to be a great city. It’s close to Macau and Hong Kong, with an impressive stadium and I can’t wait to experience it,” said Murray. 

The 2019 field also includes two other Top 20 players in Gael Monfils and Borna Coric, along with Australians Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur. 

Here’s all you need to know about the Zhuhai tennis tournament: what is the schedule, where to watch, how to get tickets and more. 

Established: 2019

Tournament Dates: 23-29 September 2019

Tournament Director: Leon Sun

Draw Ceremony: Saturday, 21 September at 2pm

Are You In? Subscribe To Get Tournament Updates In Your Inbox

Schedule (View On Official Website)
* Qualifying: starts Saturday at 1:30pm
* Main draw: Monday-Friday at 1:30pm and 7:30pm, Saturday 3pm and 7pm
* Doubles final: Sunday, 29 September at 5pm
* Singles final: Sunday, 29 September not before 7pm

How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV 
TV Schedule

Venue: Hengqin Tennis Center, Zhuhai
Main Court Seating: 5,000

Prize Money: US $931,335 (Total Financial Commitment: US $1,000,000) 

Tickets On Sale: Buy Now

View Who Is Playing, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

Social
Hashtag: #ZC19
Facebook: @ZhuhaiChampionships
Twitter: @ZhuhaiChampions 
Instagram: @zhuhaichampionships 

Did You Know… The city of Zhuhai has successfully staged an ATP Challenger Tour and WTA Elite Trophy event at its custom-designed, state-of-the art Hengqin Tennis Center.

American John Isner and #NextGenATP star Felix Auger-Aliassime headline the field at the fourth edition of the Chengdu Open as the three-week Asian swing gets underway with a pair of ATP 250 tennis tournaments in China.

Isner, 34, will be making his debut in Chengdu while the 19-year-old Auger-Aliassime returns for his second straight appearance. Last year, the teenager reached his first tour-level quarter-final here as a lucky loser, falling to eventual champion Bernard Tomic. Auger-Aliassime will be joined in Chengdu by fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov are respectively second and fourth in the ATP Race To Milan.

Grigor Dimitrov, who was awarded a wild card, will be returning to action for the first time since reaching the US Open semi-finals (l. to Medvedev).

Here’s all you need to know about the Chengdu tennis tournament: what is the schedule, where to watch, who has won and more. 

Established: 2016

Tournament Dates: 23-29 September 2019

Tournament Director: Luiz Carvalho

Draw Ceremony: Saturday, 21 September at 3pm

Are You In? Subscribe To Get Tournament Updates In Your Inbox

Schedule (View On Official Website)
* Qualifying: starts Saturday at 11am
* Main draw: Monday – Thursday at 1pm and 4:30pm, Friday at 1pm, Saturday at 1pm
* Doubles final: Sunday, 29 September at 1pm
* Singles final: Sunday, 29 September not before 3pm

How To Watch
Watch Live On Tennis TV 
TV Schedule

Venue: Sichuan International Tennis Center
Main Court Seating: 4,000

Prize Money: US $1,096,575 (Total Financial Commitment: US $1,213,295) 

Tickets On Sale: Buy Now

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

Honour Roll (Open Era)
Most Titles, Singles: Denis Istomin, Karen Khachanov, Bernard Tomic (1)
Most Titles, Doubles: Ivan Dodig, Jonathan Erlich, Raven Klaasen, Mate Pavic, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, Rajeev Ram (1)
Oldest Champion: Denis Istomin, 31, in 2017
Youngest Champion: Karen Khachanov, 20, in 2016
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 123 Bernard Tomic in 2018
Most Match Wins: Marcos Baghdatis, Taylor Fritz, Denis Istomin, Karen Khachanov and Bernard Tomic (5)

2018 Finals
Singles: [Q] Bernard Tomic (AUS) d [1] Fabio Fognini (ITA) 61 36 76(7) – Saved 4 M.P.  Read & Watch
Doubles: [1] Ivan Dodig (CRO) / Mate Pavic (CRO) d Austin Krajicek (USA) / Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (IND) 62 64  Read More

Social
Hashtag: #chengduopen
Facebook: @ChengduOpenTennis
Twitter: @ChengduOpen 
Instagram: @chengduopentennis

Did You Know… The venue in Chengdu boasts a modern facility with a centre court capacity of 6,000, two additional show courts with 2,000 seats each, and a total of 20 hard courts and 12 indoor courts.

Team World is 0-2 against Team Europe in Laver Cup competitions. But John Isner and Denis Shapovalov are hardly ready to cave before the third edition of the team event starts on Friday in Geneva.

#NextGenATP Canadian Shapovalov, who played in the 2017 Laver Cup in Prague, likes Team World’s chances, despite its heavy underdog status.

“We’re going up against the best players in the world, and they’ve got a super strong team. It’s definitely going to be a tough challenge for us, but I really think if we all work together, if we all get to play our best tennis, we have a chance to win,” Shapovalov said.

Team Europe boasts six of the top eleven players in the ATP Rankings, whereas Team World is led by No. 20 John Isner. But the big-serving American, along with his captain, John McEnroe, can’t wait for the action to begin.

“It’s fantastic to be back again. We’re just excited to get going on Friday. We know the atmosphere is going to be amazing. It has been the last two years. Can’t describe how fun it is to play on that court,” Isner said. “We are very good friends and we have a lot of fun with this. It’s just so much fun to compete in this environment.”

McEnroe, who’s in his third year of captaincy, said he’s feeling the pressure to pull off the upset. “I’m on the hot seat, I would think. So definitely feel some pressure, but it’s good pressure,” he said.

But the former World No. 1 and 77-time tour-level titlist said his team, after having close calls in past years, will carry confidence into the three-day event.

“I think the format suits our guys. We are obviously big underdogs but we have been close, very close. So we feel confident that we can pull off an upset,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll get off to a little bit better start than we did the first couple of years and the first few days we will be in a better position.”

Shapovalov kicks off the 2019 Laver Cup against No. 5 Dominic Thiem at 1 p.m. local time, followed by Team World’s Jack Sock against Team Europe’s Fabio Fognini.

In the night session, which begins at 7 p.m. local time, Europe’s Stefanos Tsitsipas meets World’s Taylor Fritz, and Roger Federer/Alexander Zverev, for Team Europe, will face Shapovalov/Sock to end Day 1.

Friday’s #LaverCup lineup is set.

Game on, Geneva! pic.twitter.com/BD6fTgp1GF

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 19, 2019

Russian Daniil Medvedev avoided any post-US Open slump on Thursday with a convincing 7-5, 6-3 win against countryman Evgeny Donskoy at the St. Petersburg Open.

Medvedev, playing his first match since pushing Rafael Nadal to five sets in the US Open final on 8 September, won 45 per cent of his return points to improve to 2-0 against the 29-year-old Donskoy in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series.

The top-seeded Russian won 20 of his 23 matches during the North American hard-court swing, making four consecutive finals in Washington, D.C., Montreal, Cincinnati and New York. He reached his first major final in Flushing Meadows, and in the process, qualified for his debut Nitto ATP Finals. The season-ending championships will be held 10-17 November at The O2 in London.

In St. Petersburg, Medvedev will meet the winner of fifth-seeded countryman Andrey Rublev and Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania for a place in the semi-finals at the ATP 250 event.

Portugal’s Joao Sousa played the villain at the St. Petersburg Open on Thursday, upsetting second seed Karen Khachanov of Russia 7-6(2), 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP 250.

The unseeded 30-year-old fell to Khachanov in their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting three years ago, at the 2016 Chengdu Open. But Sousa didn’t drop a point on his serve in the first-set tie-break and broke in the fifth game of the second to advance.

“They were pushing Karen. They were pushing me as well so I think I played a great match. I think they enjoyed,” Sousa said. “Unfortunately, Karen couldn’t win. He’s the Russian playing at home. But in the end, I was able to win and I’m very happy.”

Sousa is through to his third quarter-final of 2019 and his first not on clay. In back-to-back weeks, the veteran right-hander made the quarter-finals in Bastad and the semi-finals in Gstaad. He will next meet Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin, who beat Damir Dzumhur on Wednesday.

“Mikhail is a great player,” Sousa said. “Hopefully tomorrow I will have a little bit more crowd [support]. It’s going to be another tough match as [was] today. So now it’s time to recover and to enjoy this victory.”

Enter the grounds of the Scotstoun Leisure Centre and one thing is immediately apparent. The passion for tennis and thirst for live action in Scotland has never waned.

Fans have filed into the modest, cozy facility in Glasgow all week for a glimpse of world-class tennis. In three of the last four years, the bustling city has hosted Davis Cup ties at the Emirates Arena. But this week, the ATP Challenger Tour has welcomed players and fans to the quaint 1,000-seat venue at Scotstoun.

The ‘Murray Trophy’ has arrived.

While the name itself carries great significance throughout Scotland, it’s Jamie Murray who has made great strides to bring the tournament to life. Working closely to increase awareness for the game in his native land, he has played an integral role in the event’s creation and development.

“It’s been awesome to put on an event in Scotland,” Jamie told ATPChallengerTour.com. “We have no live, professional tennis the rest of the year, so it’s a great opportunity for people to get close to a big tournament. Monday morning here was already pretty busy which is great.

“There’s a huge appetite for tennis in Glasgow and in Scotland. We’ve had some pretty big Davis Cup ties in the past. A lot of people have already come out to see us play and we’ve gotten some great support.”

The former doubles No. 1 isn’t the only active player that has taken a hands-on approach in bringing Challenger tennis to his homeland. French stalwart Jeremy Chardy celebrated the inaugural edition of the Teréga Open Pau-Pyrénées in his hometown of Pau, in February. Like Chardy, it was Murray who has been instrumental in making the dream a reality.

The 33-year-old, in conjunction with the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Scotland, recognised the need for an expanded presence of ATP Challenger Tour events in Great Britain. That is, additional tournaments outside of the traditional grass-court season in June and July.

Cultivating interest in the game year-round has become a top priority and Challenger tennis is the perfect way to achieve that goal. This week, fans have the ability to witness the action in an intimate setting and interact with the players in the public areas. Murray has ensured the local kids are especially involved, setting up a mini-tennis court on site, while visiting his hometown of Dunblane on Saturday, a primary school on Monday and engaging in multiple Q&As and clinics.

Murray isn’t the only key tennis figure to visit the Scotstoun Leisure Centre this week. The Scot’s mother Judy Murray, British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, Queen’s Club tournament director Stephen Farrow and former Top 20 doubles star and Scotland native Colin Fleming have all come to support the cause.

Welcome to Scotland!

Glasgow’s own @aidymchugh takes us on a quick tour of the cozy facilities at the #MurrayTrophy. The 19-year-old, a former Top 10 junior, will kick off his campaign on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/Leoky3bj6K

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 16, 2019

“It’s really important to have this tournament,” said Farrow. “Obviously the majority of our professional events are in the summer, but what we are lacking are tournaments the rest of the year. That has been our strategy – to build up our circuit in other parts of the season where we don’t traditionally have events. It gives us an opportunity to talk about the sport in September, when the conversation wouldn’t typically be about tennis. This is a start for us. We’re engaging with local schools and the community in Glasgow.

“With Andy and Jamie, we’re talking about two of the greatest of all time. To have Jamie come here straight after winning the mixed doubles in New York and be engaged from Day 1, it’s been a pleasure to work with him. To see what he’s done in and around this event, and the enthusiasm he has to stimulate interest in the sport, is really encouraging.”

On the call for the doubles nightcap… former Top 20 star and ??????? Scotland’s own @colin_fleming, alongside @abigailtennis.#MurrayTrophy pic.twitter.com/ksT0aQ1GC1

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 18, 2019

While Murray is competing in the doubles competition, alongside John-Patrick Smith, the spectators have taken to the non-British players as well. A trio of 20 & under stars are in Glasgow and drawing crowds. Fourth seed Emil Ruusuvuori (20) of Finland, joins Spaniard Nicola Kuhn (19) and Austria’s Jurij Rodionov (20) as #NextGenATP stars pushing towards the Top 100 and beyond. All three are in Friday’s quarter-finals.

“This is my first time here in Glasgow and Scotland and it’s really nice,” said top seed Malek Jaziri. “The people are really nice. It is very well organised and I think Jamie has made, from what I can see, a very good tournament. All the conditions are good to play good tennis. There was a good crowd for my matches and that gives the players extra motivation. It is a great event for the next generation of players.”

BBC Sport are in Glasgow all week, streaming first to last ball coverage with Fleming on the call along with current doubles player Scott Clayton and Murray’s coach Alan MacDonald, among others. And with 20 accredited media providing coverage, it is a full-scale production.

While this is the first edition of the Murray Trophy, it is not the first time Challenger tennis has arrived in Scotland. For six years in the late 90s and early 2000s, the city of Edinburgh hosted a tournament. Also, Glasgow held one-off events on two previous occasions – in February in 2015 and in April last year. But now, with Murray’s support, it is hoping to remain a permanant fixture for years to come.

Top seeds Nikola Mektic/Franko Skugor eased into the St. Petersburg Open semi-finals on Thursday, converting all three of their break points to defeat Nicholas Monroe/Andrei Vasilevski 6-4, 6-2. Mektic/Skugor will now take on Divij Sharan/Igor Zelenay, who took out Roberto Carballes Baena/Andres Molteni 7-5, 5-7, 10-5

Second seeds Sander Gille/Joran Vliegen needed just 64 minutes to move past Adrian Mannarino/Hugo Nys 6-4, 6-4. The Belgian pair went on an 11-match winning streak in July, taking titles in Bastad (d. Delbonis/Zeballos) and Gstaad (d. Oswald/Polasek), and finishing runner-up in Kitzbühel (l. to Oswald/Polasek). Awaiting Gille/Vliegen in the semi-finals are Matteo Berrettini/Simone Bolelli, who defeated Frederik Nielsen/Tim Puetz 6-4, 4-6, 10-7.

At the Moselle Open in Metz, top seeds Nicolas Mahut/Edouard Roger-Vasselin reached the semi-finals by prevailing 6-4, 6-1 in an all-French battle with Dan Added/Albano Olivetti. This year’s Wimbledon finalists (l. to Cabal/Farah) will play Belgian duo Sander Arends/David Pel on Saturday.

Fourth seeds Santiago Gonzalez/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi finished strong in their 7-6(4), 6-3 win against Gerard Granollers/Marcel Granollers. Next up for Gonzalez/Qureshi is a semi-final showdown against Robert Lindstedt/Jan-Lennard Struff.