By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 25, 2022
Pained by four gut-wrenching Laver Cup losses, captain John McEnroe went Mad World mode.
Facing a European dream team and a dire 8-4 deficit, Team World answered the call with unity and ferocity after a barrage of F-bombs from their captain.
A fierce Frances Tiafoe fought off four match points and played a pair of tremendous tiebreakers stunning Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-6, 7-6(11), 10-8 to clinch Team World’s maiden Laver Cup championship in an exhilarating eruption of emotion at the O2 Arena in London.
“Unbelievable—unbelievable feeling,” Tiafoe told Jason Goodall in his on-court interview. “Our captain, Johnny Mac was tired of losing. He was dropping a lot of F-bombs saying we needed to get it done this year, his fifth try.
“I kept saying all week that this was our year. Guys showed up. Felix beat Novak today Jack and Felix also played unbelievable doubles today. We all did it together. It wasn’t just me, we all did it together. I showed a lot of heart to get it done. This was big. We’re gonna celebrate it big time.”
In an inspired Sunday sweep, Team World played with purpose and passion rallying for a 13-8 victory.
It started with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Sock stopping Matteo Berrettini and Andy Murray. Then Auger-Aliassime played with controlled aggression shocking former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who seemed to be pained by a wrist issue, 6-3, 7-6(3), setting the stage for Tiafoe’s heroics.
When it comes to winning championships, it’s courage that counts.
In prior years Team World came achingly close, but often flinched facing Grand Slam champions on an experienced Team Europe.
Throughout this weekend’s tie, Team World played fearless tennis with Tiafoe and Sock both buzzing crackling forehands right at legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal saving a match point to beat the iconic champions in Federer’s farewell on Friday night.
Asked tonight if he’d apologize for nailing Federer in the arm with one forehand, Tiafoe shot that suggestion down.
“No, I won’t apologize, but I will say thank you for having me in this amazing event, you know, what he’s done for the game, also say thank you for what he did for the game,” Tiafoe said of Federer. “He’s a class act. Happy to know him, happy to call him friend, happy to call him a colleague, and best wishes in his second act. But I will not apologize.”
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