Daniil Medvedev has officially made his
Laver Cup debut and has done it in style taking apart Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-0 in a truly mesmerising display at TD Garden in Boston.
It helps take Team Europe towards an almost unassailable position in the race to 13 with a 9-1 lead as Shapovalov couldn't live with Medvedev after the first set and he showed the true hallmarks of a Grand Slam champion.
To begin the tie, Shapovalov and Medvedev held serve until 2-2 where the Canadian had to save break point en route to a 3-2 lead in the opening set.
This continued with Shapovalov edging slowly towards the opener at 4-3 up. A 128mph ace followed by another from Medvedev ripped any break chance from Shapovalov and made it 4-4.
Shapovalov produced a flamboyant jumpshot to begin his service game but again he was left empty handed as Medvedev ripped away the impetus from there and broke to make it 5-4 claiming it with a triple break point.
Serving to claim the set, Medvedev proficiency on this side of the game once again was all to see as he was unplayable in taking the first set.
Medvedev continued to take away the angles to begin the second set and Shapovalov was down a break point which the Russian sealed to make it a set and a break up.
It became five games in a row as once again Shapovalov couldn't offer any resistence on the Medvedev serve. The Canadian's tough night continued as Medvedev took a double break as an hour was brought up and the finishing line closed in at 3-0 up.
A sweep on his serve saw Medvedev consolidate the break and go two away at 4-0 up.
It was a fourth successive break of throw for the imperious World No.2 who was serving for the match.
Shapovalov had a sudden chance at break point but this was taken away as soon as he got it and with his second match point, Medvedev took it.