"It still hurts me to this day" - Kyrgios looks back on 2017 Laver Cup loss to Federer

With the Laver Cup set to take place this weekend, Team World competitor Nick Kyrgios recalled his best moments from the event, with his loss to Roger Federer in 2017 being one of his favorite moments.

During the inaugural event in 2017, Team Europe had a 12-9 lead over Team World, with Kyrgios fighting to keep his team alive. A loss would grant the Europeans the title, while a victory would push the tie to a deciding doubles match.

“That deciding match against Federer. That was a match to this day that people talk about to me," revealed Kyrgios. "It was a monumental match and I feel like that really set the tone for any Laver Cup that goes ahead with or without me, or with or without Roger for many years to come."

The Australian saved some of his best tennis that season for the Laver Cup, but failed to defeat his Swiss opponent, even squandering a match point in that fateful tie.

"The energy, the intensity… that, for me, was the definition of what Laver Cup meant,” recalls Kyrgios. “To someone like Roger, who has so many accolades, has nothing to prove in this sport, and he’s taking a match that seriously, during the Laver Cup’s first year… obviously, having a match point in that match, and not taking it, was grueling.

It still hurts me to this day. If I’d won that match, would’ve it come down to deciding doubles with me and Jack (Sock)?”