Rafael Nadal's first Laver Cup victory
09/21/2023 01:27 AM
The crowd in Prague could watch Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in back-to-back matches on September 23, with two legends battling for Team Europe at the inaugural Laver Cup. Roger took down Sam Querrey before Rafa met Jack Sock in the day's second match. The Spaniard prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 in an hour and 38 minutes, sending Team Europe 7-1 in front following the fifth straight singles victory! Rafa lost the doubles encounter alongside Tomas Berdych the previous night, staying focused in this one despite squandering an 8-5 advantage in the match tie break. It was not a high-quality duel, but they at least kept the crowd entertained. Sock struggled behind the second serve, taking seven out of 25 points and ending on the losing side despite a great effort. They grabbed three breaks each, playing some thrilling points but making too many errors from the baseline.
Rafael Nadal prevailed over Jack Sock in Prague 2017.The Spaniard clinched the encounter's third game with a smash winner and saved the rival's game point in the next one before securing a break following the American's loose backhand. Jack recovered his game promptly, breaking back at love in game five after Rafa's wayward backhand and reducing the deficit to 3-2. Nadal secured his second straight break in game six after Sock's backhand error, opening a 4-2 gap and fending off a break point in the next one with a forehand crosscourt winner. Rafa served for the set at 5-3 and landed a forehand down the line winner for three set points. World no. 1 converted the first with an ace, taking the opener 6-3 and gathering a boost. Nadal clinched a break in the second set's third game, looking good to seal the deal in the next half an hour. Instead, Sock broke back at 15 in game four after the rival's forehand mistake, returning to the positive side.
Rafa extended the fifth game with a backhand winner and squandered a break point that could have sent him in front. Jack delivered his second straight break in game six, moving 4-2 in front and gaining confidence. Nadal held at love at 2-5 before Sock wrapped up the set with an ace in the next one, introducing the match tie break after 81 minutes. Rafa delivered three mini-breaks and moved 5-1 in front before Jack started to reduce the deficit. The American came back to 6-8 with a forehand down the line winner and locked the result at 8-8 after the Spaniard's voller error. Jack saved a match point at 8-9 with a forehand winner before Rafa forced his error with a forehand attack. The Spaniard converted the second match point at 10-9 with a forehand winner, emerging at the top and sending Team Europe further ahead.
