Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe put the ending touches on Group World’s convincing Laver Cup victory Sunday.
The People held their nerve to defeat Group Europe’s Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6(4), 7-6(5) and safe the Laver Cup 13-2, claiming the occasion for the second consecutive yr. The Vancouver crowd was handled to thrilling rallies, with each groups demonstrating fast reflexes and deft contact within the forecourt all through the one-hour, 37-minute conflict.
Shelton and Tiafoe relied on their firepower and had been dominant on serve, profitable 40 of their 48 first-serve factors to clinch the title. A key second got here when Shelton and Tiafoe received three consecutive factors from 4/5 within the second-set tie-break to shut the match.
On prime of the world as soon as extra 🏆@BenShelton and @FTiafoe safe #LaverCup 2023 for Group World. pic.twitter.com/hOhOWJXWCC
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 24, 2023
“It has been loopy for me and I’ve loved being in a crew surroundings,” Shelton stated. “I’ve loved taking part in for Johnny Mac. Group World actually introduced the vitality this week. It is simple for me to play once I’m amped up and hyped and the bench has performed an excellent job of hyping me up all week. I hope I’ve performed a great job of hyping them up too. Enjoying with Frances speaks for itself, best man to play with, most enjoyable man to be on court docket with.”
Tiafoe stated, “Being part of it final yr and clinching it final yr was so emotional, first time. John [McEnroe] was tremendous excited. Now, with the ability to do it once more in doubles with Ben was loads of enjoyable.”
Led by captain John McEnroe, Group World has now received the previous two editions of the Laver Cup after falling within the first 4.
“It felt unbelievable to kick their a** child!” McEnroe stated. “They kicked ours many instances. It was a battle to the tip after we received final yr and we got here in, nice crew spirit, good mixture of youth and expertise. I felt it from the phrase go and we stepped up. I believed all the blokes performed nice.”
Again. To. Again. 🔴🏆#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/HInexfFXy8
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 24, 2023
In a doubles exhibition match to shut the day, Group World’s Christopher Eubanks and Milos Raonic defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Arthur Fils 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.
What makes a champion crew?@chris_eubanks96 takes us inside Group World’s locker room.#LaverCup pic.twitter.com/TgIbq5RFRB
— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) September 25, 2023