Rublev & Zverev Clinch Laver Cup For Team Europe
Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev clinched a comprehensive Laver Cup win for Team Europe on Sunday afternoon when they defeated Team World’s Reilly Opelka and Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-3 to give their team a 14-1 victory.
“I was thinking I’m one of the worst ones in doubles, that I can only shoot forehands and that’s it. But it looks like I can play doubles really well,” Rublev said in the on-court interview. “It’s been amazing. It’s been a pleasure to be with these guys, with Bjorn and Thomas behind our back. It was a pleasure.”
Team Europe has now won the first four editions of the three-day event. The only match they dropped this weekend came in Friday evening’s doubles match, when John Isner and Shapovalov were victorious.
“I’m a proud captain. I’m proud of my team, what you guys did. To spend a week with you together, it’s amazing,” Team Europe Captain Bjorn Borg said during the trophy ceremony. “It’s an honour and it’s a great feeling.”
Another chapter in the dynasty is written.@AndreyRublev97 and @AlexZverev defeat Opelka and Shapovalov, 6-2 6-7(4) 10-3 to claim Team Europe’s fourth #LaverCup title. pic.twitter.com/FRG2fIkBgi
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 26, 2021
Team World faced a daunting task when they arrived at TD Garden in Boston for the third day of action, knowing they had to win all four matches to claim the trophy. Opelka and Shapovalov battled hard to win the second set and put pressure on their opponents, but they were unable to finish the job.
Shapovalov made two unforced errors early in the Match Tie-break and Rublev and Zverev took full advantage. Team Europe have won five of the six Match Tie-breaks in this year’s Laver Cup.
“A lot of matches could have gone both ways and we won most of those matches,” Zverev said in the on-court interview. “At the end of the day, the score says that it was 14-1, but it could have gone both ways a lot of the time.
“I think we’re all extremely happy. We [did] a lot of hard work for this victory throughout the whole week. The guys have been amazing. The group of this team has been absolutely amazing. I think a lot of us came a lot closer together and to be honest I can’t wait for London next year.”