Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal team up in the Laver Cup
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal team up in the Laver Cup

Laver Cup: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal win to stretch Europe's lead


Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both won their singles matches before teaming up for doubles success on day two of the Laver Cup, as Europe extended their lead over Team World to 9-3 at the O2 Arena in Prague.

Making his debut in the new competition, dubbed the Ryder Cup of tennis, Federer eased to a 6-4 6-2 victory over Team World's Sam Querrey in the opening rubber of the day.

Nadal had a much greater battle in his clash with Jack Sock though, the Spaniard eventually prevailing 6-3 3-6 11-9.

The French and US Open champion had looked set for a relative straightforward victory when he led by a set and a break. However, Sock hit back with consecutive breaks of the Nadal serve and took the contest into a deciding champions' tie-break.

Nadal again managed to blow a sizeable lead - Sock hit back from 6-2 down to level at 8-8.

The American saved one match point but after a trademark cross-court forehand stretched him too wide, Nadal claimed the next point on his own serve to seal victory.

With two points on offer to the winner of Saturday's matches, the wins for Federer and Nadal saw Europe's lead increase from an overnight 3-1 to 7-1.

Roger Federer celebrates his win
Roger Federer celebrates his win

Team World then cut the deficit to 7-3 when Nick Kyrgios claimed a much-needed 4-6 7-6 10-6 win over Tomas Berdych to kick-off the evening session but the advantage was restored to six points thanks to Federer and Nadal once again.

Fans were treated to the unique sight of the world number one and two on the same side of the court as doubles team-mates for the first time and they duly rose to the occasion with a 6-4 1-6 10-5 victory over Querrey and Sock.

"I'm very happy how we played, so much fun," Federer said on www.lavercup.com.

Nadal added: "We played with too much energy, we went for everything. It was an unbelievable feeling...the support has been a unique moment for us. The crowd, the team the situation everybody was so special."

The Laver Cup will end on Sunday with four more matches, which are each worth three points for the winner. The first team to amass 13 points will lift the trophy so Team World aren't quite out of it yet.

If both teams finish level on 12 points apiece there will be a one-set doubles decider to determine the winner.

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