After Day 1 of the 2018 Laver Cup in Chicago, Team Europe held a 3-1 lead. Planning for Day 2, Team World Captain John McEnroe entrusted Match 5 to John Isner and Match 6 to Nick Kyrgios. Team Europe Captain Bjorn Borg tapped Alexander Zverev in Match 5 and Roger Federer in Match 6. Day 2 features Roger Federer vs Nick Kyrgios.
Here we are again.
Laver Cup Day 2 – Afternoon Session
Day 2 of the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva presents a carbon copy of the Day 2 matches in Chicago. Last year, Team Europe nabbed both matches to end the third session with a commanding 8-1 lead. McEnroe hopes for different results, Borg looks for deja vu all over again.
Match 5: Alexander Zverev vs John Isner
Laver Cup Head to Head: Zverev leads 1-0
ATP Head to Head: Zverev leads 6-1
Last year John Isner held match point in the second set tiebreaker against Zverev. A beautiful pass by the German kept him from defeat. Within several minutes, Zverev swung the affair in his favor. He took both the second set tie-breaker (8-6) and then the super tie-breaker (10-7) to deny Isner and Team World the critical two point match.
Zverev carries some Laver Cup momentum into this year’s 2 point match after pairing with Federer to take Friday’s one point doubles match. Isner sat out Day 1; he looks to be a catalyst for Team World on Day 2. Both players bring the baggage of mediocre summer seasons to this match, though Laver Cup pressure has brought out solid play from both men in the past.
Zverev plays well with the support of leaders like Borg and Federer; he looks to continue this trend. Isner will need to maximize his serving advantage on the fast court in Geneva; unfortunately for Team World, he will fall a touch short.
Prediction: Zverev in super tie-breaker after split sets
Match 5: Roger Federer vs Nick Kyrgios
Laver Cup Head to Head: Federer 2-0
ATP Head to Head: Federer 5-1
Since its inception in 2017, all participants embraced Laver Cup play with passion and commitment, none more than Kyrgios and Federer. The enigmatic and sometimes flighty Kyrgios always plays Laver Cup matches with feverish intensity. Federer helped create the event and is this year’s unofficial host as it is played in his native country.
The contestants in this match square off in Laver Cup singles for the third time in three years. They do not disappoint. Federer won the 2017 affair by the most narrow of margins to clinch the inaugural event for Europe and knocked off Kyrgios again in 2018.
Kyrgios will have to be at his mental and physical best to take out Federer on his home soil. He should have the goods on Day 2 as he will break the hearts of the raucous Swiss crowd. Fans can only hope for a possible rematch on Day 3 in the final match.
Prediction: Kyrgios in 2
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