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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Roger Federer eases past Nick Kyrgios

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The second edition of the Laver Cup took place in Chicago in September 2018. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic led Team Europe and did not play the singles matches on an opening day. Grigor Dimitrov, Kyle Edmund and David Goffin pushed the blue squad 3-0 ahead, and Roger and Novak played the night match, sharing the same side of the court for the first time.

Federer played his first singles encounter on the second day against Nick Kyrgios. The Swiss and the Aussie played four thrilling matches on the Tour and a cracker at the Laver Cup a year earlier. Federer defeated Kyrgios at the US Open a few weeks before their Chicago duel and was the dominant figure in this one too.

Roger needed 65 minutes to dismiss Nick 6-3, 6-2 following a notable performance on serve and return. The Swiss dropped 12 points behind the initial shot and never faced a break point. He stole almost half of the return points and turned them into five break chances.

Roger Federer needed 65 minutes to beat Nick Kyrgios in Chicago 2018.

Roger converted three to seal the deal and move Team Europe 7-1 in front. Federer found the rhythm early on and never let it go. He fired from serve and forehand and kept the points on his racquet to emerge at the top in no time.

Roger held at 15 in the encounter’s opening game, and Nick landed a booming serve in the next one for 1-1. Kyrgios sprayed a backhand error in the fourth game to experience three break points. The Swiss cracked a backhand down the line winner to seize the second and open a 3-1 advantage.

Roger landed another backhand down the line winner in game five to cement the lead and settle into a fine rhythm. Kyrgios held at 15 in game six before Federer landed a forehand winner in the next one to open a 5-2 gap. The Aussie grabbed the eighth game with a forehand winner to reduce the deficit to 5-3.

The Swiss served for the set in game nine and landed a service winner for 6-3 in 32 minutes. With a boost on his side, Roger landed a forehand winner for three break chances at the start of the second set. He seized the first with a forehand down the line winner to forge an early lead and move closer to the finish line.

Federer flew over the court in those moments and secured the second game with a service winner for 6-3, 2-0 in under 40 minutes! Roger took the fourth game with a half-volley winner and created a break chance in the next one after a thrilling exchange.

Nick denied it with an ace before Roger earned the second with a forehand winner. The Swiss converted it to build a 4-1 advantage and grabbed the next game with a service winner, leaving the rival to serve to stay in the match.

Nick closed the seventh game with a smash winner, and Roger served for the victory at 5-2. Federer painted an ace for two match points and seized the second with a service winner to emerge at the top.

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