Federer helps strengthen Team Europe's grip on Laver Cup

Team Europe's Swiss tennis superstar Roger Federer on Saturday overpowered Team World's American Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-2 in the Laver Cup's second day.

The 19-time Grand Slam champion, world No. 2, needed just 68 minutes to give Team Europe a 5-1 lead in the tie, reports Efe.

Team Europe ended the first day of competition with a 3-1 lead thanks to three singles, but suffered one doubles defeat.

On Friday, Croatian world No.5 Marin Cilic defeated American Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-0), while Austrian world No.7 Dominic Thiem edged American John Isner 6-7 (15-17), 7-6 (7-2), 10-7 and Germany's Alexander Zverev prevailed over Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5).

Later, Australian Nick Kyrgios and American Jack Sock gave Team World a first point at the expense of Spanish Rafael Nadal and Czech Tomas Berdych.

The Laver Cup features a unique format in which three singles and one doubles match will be played on each of the three days and the points received per match victory will increase every day (one point per match on Friday, two points per contest on Saturday and three points per match on Sunday).

The first team to reach 13 points will win the inaugural Laver Cup, with a doubles decider to be played if the teams are tied at 12 points apiece at the end of Sunday's matches.

--IANS

pur/bg