Team World claims back to back title! Tiafoe and Shelton's doubles triumph to defend Laver Cup

Monday, 25 September 2023 at 10:18

Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton prevailed over Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4), 7-6(5) at the beginning of the day, securing the Laver Cup title.

Few could have foreseen the significant superiority demonstrated by Team World over Team Europe during the Laver Cup weekend. Without the presence of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic, the Europeans arrived with the weakest team on paper in the tournament's history.

With only two top-10 players on their roster and led by Rublev and Ruud, Europe couldn't withstand the rest of the world, which had only Taylor Fritz within the top 10. Nevertheless, a closely contested weekend was expected without any team being heavily favored.

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However, from the first day, the Europeans found themselves trailing, and today, they would need to win all four matches to clinch the title, a challenging feat starting with the Rublev/Hurkacz doubles facing the Americans Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton.

The doubles match was decided by fine margins and saw no breaks in the first set. It was only in the fourth game that the rest of the world's team faced two break points against them, but they eventually managed to save them with their serves, keeping the match level.

In the tie-break, both teams were shaky on their serves, and although Europe had a 4-3 lead, Shelton and Tiafoe secured four consecutive points to take the set on their first set point.

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The second set unfolded similarly, with both teams comfortably holding their service games, extending the match to another tie-break, without even a break opportunity.

In the end, the North American duo prevailed and secured the title with a score of 7-6(4), 7-6(4).

With this victory, the title remains in the hands of Team World, leaving a historical record of 4-2 in favor of the Europeans in Laver Cup editions since the tournament's inception in 2017.

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Ben Shelton/Frances Tiafoe d. Andrey Rublev/Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4) 7-6(5) Team World wins Laver Cup for the 2nd year in a row 👀 13-2. The 2nd most lopsided scoreline in Laver Cup history ✅2nd win for Team World Built on fresh talent & camaraderie, this was well-deserved 🌎

8:58 PM · Sep 24, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

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