Tennis-Team World’s Cerundolo, Europe’s Tsitsipas win to leave Laver Cup level

BERLIN (Reuters) – Team World and Team Europe were level after victories by Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo for Team World and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece for Team Europe on the first day of the Laver Cup tournament at the Uber Arena on Friday.

Cerundolo secured the opening point with a 6-4 6-4 win over world number nine Casper Ruud of Norway, weathering an early storm from the Norwegian’s impressive start to turn the match in his favour on the Laver Cup’s striking trademark black hard court.

Tsitsipas then got Europe on the scoreboard with a 6-1 6-4 victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia.

Team Europe’s Grigor Dimitrov will take on Alejandro Tabilo of Team World in Friday’s evening session followed by an intriguing doubles match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev (Team Europe) and Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton (Team World).

Players from both teams arrived at Berlin’s Uber Arena dressed in black tuxedos and bow ties ahead of the three-day team contest that sees first-day victories worth one point apiece, with two points being awarded for wins on the second day, and three points each on the third and final day on Sunday.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Toby Davis)