Laver Cup: Teenager Joao Fonseca Sinks Flavio Cobolli To Get Team World Off The Mark

Newcomer Joao Fonseca put Team World’s first point on the board with a victory over Europe’s Flavio Cobolli in the ongoing edition of the Laver Cup on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Brazilian, who won his first ATP title in Buenos Aires this year, registered a 6-4, 6-3 triumph as he clawed back from a couple of games down in the first set and broke twice in the second to claim the victory.

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“I tried to stay positive during the match,” said Fonseca.

“I was a little bit more nervous than usual, which is normal,” he added.

Team Europe started strongly with victories from Casper Ruud and Jakub Mensik in the first two singles matches at Chase Center, home

of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.

Norway’s Ruud secured Europe’s first win with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) triumph over American Reilly Opelka, known for his powerful serves.

Ruud achieved his fifth consecutive victory against Opelka, improving his Laver Cup singles record to 4-1.

“I was in the same position last year and lost the opening match so it’s good to get some revenge and begin strong for Europe,” Ruud said.

Mensik then managed to overcome a late setback to defeat Alex Michelsen 6-1, 6-7 (3/7) 10-8.

The Czech player was broken while serving for the match in the ninth game of the second set. However, after losing the second-set tiebreaker, he regrouped to win the 10-point match tiebreaker.

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World number one Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his US Open victory at Flushing Meadows this month, aimed to add another point for Europe by teaming with Mensik in the evening’s closing doubles against Team World’s US duo of Taylor Fritz and Michelsen.

Europe has won five of the first seven editions, although Team World triumphed the last time the competition co-created by Swiss great Roger Federer was held in North America, in Vancouver in 2023.