Laver Cup: Tabilo-Shelton put Team World in driving seat heading into day three

Team World could not have asked for a better ending to the second day of the Laver Cup, with Alejandro Tabilo and Ben Shelton confirming the team’s position in the driving seat. The two lefties dominated Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud (6-1, 6-2), gaining an additional two points, leaving the state of play at 8-4 in Team World’s favour.

The first set was simply superb from Team World, breaking both Ruud and Tsitsipas to lead 5-0, having set points to secure the bagel, before, ultimately, clinching the set 6-1 with far superior net play and team communication.

If Team Europe were hoping for a better second set, their wish was not granted, with Tabilo and Shelton breaking in the very first game of the second set, saving two break points at 3-2, before breaking a second time in the set for 5-2, and Shelton serving out the match for the victory.

Tstisipas and Ruud were particularly ineffective behind their second serves, winning just 28 percent of such points, compared with Tabilo and Shelton’s 46 percent.

Shelton: I’m feeling pretty confident about our chances

Speaking about their commanding 8-4 lead, Shelton stated:

“Taylor Fritz is really the MVP of today (having beaten Zverev), played crazy, as long as we have him on our team I’m feeling pretty confident about our chances on day three. Looking forward to battling with the guys tomorrow, and I think we are in pretty good form.”

Tabilo was overjoyed by his first Laver Cup match victory:

“I’m just so happy that I can support the team a little bit, the doubles was great, it’s so easy to play with Ben who has a huge serve, we felt good, and happy about the win.”

Given the scoreline, Team World need just two wins to secure the Laver Cup victory, which would be their third consecutive win at the event.

Results of the first day (each victory counts one point):

1. Cerundolo (World) b. Ruud (Europe): 6-4, 6-4 | World 1-0 Europe
2. Tsitsipas (E) b. Kokkinakis (W): 6-1, 6-4 | World 1-1 Europe
3. Dimitrov (E) b. Tabilo (W): 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) | World 1-2 Europe
4. Fritz/Ben Shelton (W) b. Zverev/Alcaraz (E): 7-6 (5), 6-4 | World 2-2 Europe

Results of the second day (each victory counts two points):

1. Tiafoe (World) b. Medvedev (Europe): 3-6, 6-4, 10-5 | World 4-2 Europe
2. Alcaraz (Europe) b. Shelton (World) : 6-4, 6-4 | World 4-4 Europe
3. Fritz (World) b. Zverev (Europe) : 6-4, 7-5 | World 6-4 Europe
4. Shelton/Tabilo (World) b. Tstisipas/Ruud (Europe) : 6-1, 6-2 | World 8-4 Europe

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