Tsitsipas beats Kokkinakis to earn point for Team Europe at Laver Cup
Team World's Francisco Cerundolo tosses the ball for a serve to Europe's Casper Ruud during his singles tennis match on the first day of the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the Uber arena in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Credit: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi
BERLIN — Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled Team Europe even with Team World at the Laver Cup by beating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4 on Friday.
Team World led after Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina topped Casper Ruud of Norway 6-4, 6-4 in the opener of the indoor hard-court men’s tournament that features a format reminiscent of golf’s Ryder Cup.
Ruud, ranked No. 9, made 20 unforced errors and just 11 winners.
Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov was set to play Chile's Alejandro Tabilo in the last singles of the day.
The doubles will feature Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev against Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz.
The tournament ends on Sunday.
Each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday. The first team to 13 points wins.
Former Tennis player Andre Agassi arrives for the Opening Night of the Laver Cup tennis tournament in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Credit: AP/Christophe Gateau
Earlier Friday, the Laver Cup and the ATP tour announced a five-year extension to their existing agreement.
