Team Europe and Team World split the first two matches on Friday as the Laver Cup opened play in Berlin.
Team World’s Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina upset Casper Ruud of Norway 6-4, 6-4. Cerundolo, ranked No. 31 in the world, won in 97 minutes and fired 16 winners to improve to 4-3 all-time against the No. 9 Ruud.
Team Europe’s Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece got his side even with a 6-1, 6-4 victory in 81 minutes over Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia.
In later matches, Team Europe’s Grigor Dimitrov is scheduled to face Team World’s Alejandro Tabilo, and in doubles, Team Europe’s Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev play Team World’s Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
Hangzhou Open
China’s Bu Yunchaokete upset second-seeded Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3 to reach his first ATP Tour quarterfinal.
The home country favorite, Yunchaokete converted 3 of 5 break-point opportunities and recorded 34 winners and 13 aces. Russia’s Khachanov fired 18 aces and 35 winners but also had more unforced errors, 38-33.
Fourth-seed Brandon Nakashima saved two match points in knocking off Hong Kong qualifier Chak Lam Coleman Wong 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-1. Nakashima will play in the quarterfinals against Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, who advanced after Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan withdrew because of illness.
Mikhail Kukushkin defeated fellow Kazakhstani Alexander Shevchenko 6-7, 7-6 (3).
Chengdu Open
Yannick Hanfmann of Germany ousted seventh-seeded Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round in China.
France’s Mpetshi Perricard had more aces (22-8) and winners (32-26) but also more unforced errors (27-16). Hanfmann converted 2 of 6 break-point opportunities.
Third-seeded Nicolas Jarry of Chile outlasted Slovakia’s Lukas Klein 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, and fourth-seeded Pedro Martinez Portero of Spain captured a 6-3, 6-4 win over Australia’s Aleksander Vukic. Russian qualifier Alibek Kachmazov downed Japan’s Taro Daniel 7-6 (1), 6-1.
–Field Level Media
