The 2024 Laver Cup kicks off on Friday afternoon at Uber Area in Berlin, Germany. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Casper Ruud, and Grigor Dimitrov are amongst these taking the court docket on Day 1.
Listed below are my picks for 2 of Friday’s finest matchups.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (EUR) vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis (WOR)Tsitsipas and Kokkinakis can be going head-to-head for the third time of their careers. They’ve break up their two earlier conferences, each at Grand Slams. Tsitsipas prevailed 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4 on the 2021 Australian Open earlier than Kokkinakis simply received the job achieved 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in spherical one of many U.S. Open this summer season.
The Australian may very well be in line for one more upset–albeit a minor one–in Berlin. A 2019 Nitto ATP Finals triumph however, Tsitsipas shouldn’t be nice on quick surfaces and has usually underwhelmed on indoor laborious courts. Furthermore, the Greek is 1-4 in his final 5 matches relationship all the way in which again to the Paris Olympics. Kokkinakis is taking part in very nicely and may have the sting on this one.
Decide: Kokkinakis in 3
Casper Ruud (EUR) vs. Francisco Cerundolo (WOR)Ruud and Cerundolo can be squaring off for the seventh time after they conflict within the 2024 Laver Cup’s opening rubber. They’ve break up their six earlier encounters, with Ruud most lately scoring a 6-3, 6-4 victory on the Olympic Video games.
Each guys are at the perfect on clay, however Ruud has loved extra success on laborious courts through the years. Though every man has achieved success on mainly each floor (aside from Ruud on grass), an indoor laborious court docket ought to give the Norwegian a slight benefit. He’s a powerful 3-0 all time in singles (and total) on the Laver Cup and may be capable to make it 4-0 on Friday.
Decide: Ruud in 2
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
