Stefanos Tsitsipas dominates Thansai Kokkinakis at Laver Cup in US Open rematch
The Greek rolled, 6-1, 6-4, Friday in Berlin to bring Team Europe level with Team World on the opening day.
Team Europe and Team World split the first two matches on the opening day of the Laver Cup Friday in Berlin.
After teammate Casper Ruud went down to Francisco Cerundolo, Stefanos Tsitsipas picked up the home squad by exacting revenge on Thansai Kokkinakis, 6-1, 6-4.
"Very satisfied with that type of game I brought today," Tsitsipas told Andrea Petkovic on court afterwards.
The Aussie had ousted Tsitsipas in the first round of the US Open last month, but offered little resistance at Uber Arena in his event debut. Tsitsipas raced out to claim eight of the first nine games by establishing the more aggressive baseline position.
With Kokkinakis rarely getting himself forward as a countermeasure, it left Tsitsipas to freely work his forehand weapon and change pace with sliced backhands. The Greek was equally inspired on serve, holding from start to finish.
"I think it was the team captian that was the difference," a smiling Tsitsipas shared before embracing Bjorn Borg.
Earlier, Cerundolo capitalized on three of his four break points in a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ruud. The Argentine kissed the net with a forehand drop shot on match point to move ahead 4-3 in the pair’s rivalry.
“I felt super comfortable on the court. When I play the team competition, there’s something special inside me that makes me play really good,” Cerundolo reflected with Todd Woodbridge.
When evening action kicks off, Grigor Dimitrov takes on Alejandro Tabilo ahead of a doubles showdown pitting Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev against Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.