Alex de Minaur claimed Team World's first point in the Laver Cup on Friday evening, defeating Andy Murray 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 in a tense match in London.
Alex de Minaur earned Team World their first point at the Laver Cup on Friday night, defeating Andy Murray 5-7 6-3 10-7 in London.
At The O2, the Australian demonstrated his toughness by crawling around the baseline and outlasting the former world No. 1 in the long changes.
The 23-year-old also showed great touch, passing around several breakaway winners to win after two hours and 29 minutes.
In the three-day event, Team Europe now leads Team World 2-1.
With his win, De Minaur improved to 2-0 in the ATP Head2Head series against Murray.
This week, the six-time Tour Level Champion and the Scot make their Laver Cup debuts.
Stefanos Tsitsipas strengthened Team Europe’s advantage in London after demolishing Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-1.
From the start, the Greek appeared in command in front of a raucous crowd at The O2.
He was dominating the Argentine with a brutal forehand. Nevertheless, Tsitsipas won after 77 minutes, with 17 winners and only six unforced errors.
The world Number 6 has now won all three Laver Cup matches, improving to 4-2 in his ATP Head2Head series against Schwartzman.
Casper Ruud secured a winning start for Team Europe in the first match, defeating Team World’s Jack Sock 6-4, 5-7, 10-7.
Alex De Minaur Defeats Andy Murray | Match Recap
The Norwegian, who defeated him in their only meeting at the tournament last year, quickly established himself on the hard courts at The O2 in London.
In the first set, the 23-year-old hit his groundstrokes and outlasted the American in the more extended exchanges.
He recovered from a dip late in the second set and held his nerve in the match tiebreak to win in an hour and 49 minutes in their first ATP Head2Head meeting.
Captain Bjorn Borg hopes to lead Team Europe to their fifth consecutive Laver Cup title against John McEnroe’s Team World this week in London.
Roger Federer will play his final tour match when he goes on trial in doubles with Rafael Nadal of Spain.
In the last game of the day, the Swiss-Spanish duo faces Team World’s Sock and Frances Tiafoe.
Alex de Minaur earned Team World its first point at the Laver Cup London by outlasting Andy Murray in a night session unlike any other in the tournament’s history.
Alex de Minaur earned Team World its first point at the Laver Cup London by outlasting Andy Murray in a night session unlike any other in the tournament’s history.
When Novak Djokovic tells you “Great job”, you know you’re doing something right.
Strategic insights from a 21-time Grand Slam champion as Andy Murray celebrates taking a 7-5 lead on Alex de Minaur.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/sXSXx1c2SC
— Eurosport (@eurosport) September 23, 2022
Alex De Minaur seeing red.
The Australian has given Team World renewed life with a stirring victory #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/mqfp7Ov2eT
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 23, 2022
i mean it’s gotta be hyper surreal if you’re alex de minaur and you’re playing andy murray in London as roger federer, rafael nadal, and novak djokovic take turns telling andy how to beat you
strong cobra kai vibes
— Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) September 23, 2022
After falling in the first two matches on Friday afternoon, De Minaur’s defeated the former No.1 5-7 6-3 10-7.
“We had a couple of bad matches,”
de Minaur admitted.
“I knew my match would be essential to try to get the point and get us back on track.
“An essential thing is that everyone on this team will put everything out there.”
The Australian won three sets in three hours in their previous meeting three years ago in Zhuhai.
Their battle at The O2 began with a one-hour, sixteen-minute first set.
Long rallies were prevalent, with one exchange in the opening set sure to go down in Laver Cup history.
Murray, who last played at The O2 in 2016, where he defeated Novak Djokovic to claim the year-end No. 1 ranking, is usually given the spotlight when he plays at home.
This time, however, his battle with the exciting de Minaur served as an appetizer before Roger Federer’s final professional match.
“It’s surreal, just playing a match with everything going on,”
Murray said, before listing several legendary names who were present, including both captains.
Having Bjorn Borg on the court, John McEnroe.” Stefan Edberg was in the crowd, as were all the teams; having them cheer you on and talk to you during matches was incredible. One of the most memorable matches I’ve ever played.”
On Thursday, de Minaur reiterated his preference for team competitions, as if anyone needed reminding.
He has five straight Davis Cup victories and can add the Laver Cup to his list of team triumphs by defeating his fellow competition debutant.
On Friday, one team broke for a 2-0 lead for the third time in a row, but it wasn’t Team Europe.
When chair umpire Aurelie Tourte had to tell Murray that one of his shoelaces, which used to hold his wedding ring, was untied, there were chuckles.
He tied his shoelaces and set about regaining momentum and bringing the score to 3-3.
Murray had a breakpoint at 4-3 after a de Minaur double fault, but his opponent responded with three consecutive aces.
Murray yelled though de Minaur maintained his lead in the 12th game, earning the first five-game points before Murray capitalized on his second set point via a double fault.
If Murray delivered a psychological blow by claiming such a tiring set, de Minaur — 13 years younger — looked more energized in the second.
A break for 2-1 confirmed his early dominance.
Murray hung in there despite two missed break points at 3-4.
Team Europe had won six of the previous seven Laver Breakers, including when Casper Ruud beat Jack Sock to start play on Friday.
De Minaur, on the other hand, never trailed.
Murray pulled to 7-8 in the final set, only to have his second-serve return go long.
A strong de Minaur first serve helped seal a significant victory for Team World, which had previously lost all four Laver Cups.
It was only the second time in Laver Cup history that Team World won a singles match on Day 1.
Sock stunned top ten Team Europe player Fabio Fognini at the Laver Cup Geneva 2019.
“Probably the nerves and just the sense of having my back against the wall, it wasn’t easy,”
de Minaur said.
“We’re in a battle, so it was a big win for me.”