Session 1 of the 2019 Laver Cup begins Friday afternoon in Geneva, Switzerland. Two singles matches, each worth 1 point in the race for 13 points and the cup, will be played. Team Europe sends out a Laver Cup veteran followed by a Laver Cup rookie. Team World counters with two Laver Cup veterans.
Laver Cup Session 1 Matches
Match 1: Dominic Thiem vs Denis Shapovalov
Head to Head: Thiem 2-0
Despite Day 1 matches only being one point matches, captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will send Laver Cup veterans out in the first match. Borg tapped world #5 Dominic Thiem for Team Europe while John McEnroe entrusted the opening match to #33 Denis Shapovalov.
In the 2017 edition of the Laver Cup, then teenager Shapovalov proved you can almost throw out world rankings when the boisterous Laver Cup is played. Shapovalov entered the 2017 Laver Cup ranked #51 in the world. Despite his ranking, the Canadian pushed World #4 and budding superstar Alexander Zverev to the brink before falling 7-6 7-6.
Knowing the emotions start early and run hot, Borg entrusted match #1 to the experienced Thiem. Though a winner in his 2017 Laver Cup singles match vs John Isner, Thiem bowed out in the first round of the US Open while Shapovalov advanced to the third round before falling to Gael Monfils in five sets.
Though a longshot on European soil, the Canadian representing Team World may just have enough experience and mojo to overcome the odds. If victorious, Shapovalov will give Team World their first Match #1 victory in Laver Cup history.
Prediction: Shapovalov in a super tie-breaker after split sets.
Match 2: Fabio Fognini vs Jack Sock
Head to Head: 1-1
Match 2 closes out Session 1 of the Laver Cup. Italian Fabio Fognini of Team Europe and Jack Sock of Team World square off in this one point match. Virtually everyone expected McEnroe to send Sock out in a one point singles match as he is on the team mostly for his doubles prowess.
Despite a nagging foot injury and his status as a Laver Cup rookie, Fongini holds the cards against Sock. While Laver Cup doubles star, Sock has yet to win a Laver Cup singles match despite playing in both 2017 and 2018. Sock still hopes for a singles breakthrough after his return from an injury that sidelined him for extensive time. It won’t come here.
Prediction: Fognini in 2
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
