SAN FRANCISCO — Group World was trying to climb out of a 3-1 gap and stage issues up — and possibly a bit bit extra — towards Group Europe on Day 2 of the 2025 Laver Cup at Chase Middle in San Francisco.
To take action, Group World — consisting of six gamers from locations not positioned in Europe — first seemed to Australian tennis famous person Alex de Minaur, who was taking up Germany’s Alexander Zverev within the first match of the afternoon session Saturday.
Group World would even be relying on the ascending scoring system at this event, which was based in 2017 by Roger Federer and others in honor of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver and is performed in a special metropolis annually.
Match wins develop extra helpful because the three-day competitors continues — with these on Day 1 counting for one level and the Day 2 victories doubling in worth. The wins on the ultimate day, Sunday, depend for 3 factors. So, in different different phrases, groups have the possibility to make up deficits — or improve their leads — fairly rapidly because the Laver Cup progresses.
But, it wasn’t going to be simple for Group World, provided that Zverev was the one standing in the way in which Saturday afternoon.
(L-R) Group World Captain Andre Agassi and Alex De Minaur of Group World rejoice after defeating Alexander Zverev of Group Europe throughout day two of Laver Cup 2025 at Chase Middle on Sept. 20, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Picture by Joe Scarnici/Getty Photos for Laver Cup)
The world No. 3 has been completely untouchable on this setting, going undefeated as a member of Group Europe within the 5 earlier Laver Cups that he’s performed. The German additionally boasts a determined head-to-head benefit with an 8-2 document over de Minaur, who was a final minute substitute for Group World after American Frances Tiafoe bowed out as a consequence of damage.
But, de Minaur got here into the event enjoying some completely glowing tennis these days — capturing his tenth profession title in Washington after which making it to quarterfinals on the US Open — and continued to take action as he completely dominated the primary set towards Zverev.
He broke Zverev on his first probability, rapidly solidifying the lead together with his subsequent service recreation, after which breaking the tall German’s serve as soon as once more to go up 4-0. The Australian did so with an impressively different recreation play — just about all of which underscored his popularity as one of many speediest guys on the courtroom.
Zverev is the uncommon large man who doesn’t thoughts moving into lengthy rallies, but he had no reply for the way in which de Minaur blended issues up — brief floaters, going cross courtroom, pounding Zverev’s backhand, smooth droppers, racing down balls, hitting his spot on serve, and many others.
Earlier than he knew what hit him, Zverev had misplaced the primary set 6-1. Oh, however he would win the Dangerous Sport of the Day title, punctuating the shedding effort by launching his racquet throughout the courtroom and coming manner too near hitting Group Europe coach Yannick Noah.
After a chat with Noah on the bench, Zverev managed to gather himself and he stayed just about dead-even with de Minaur all through a lot of the second set. They stayed on serve — but not with out some dramatic twists and turns coming within the video games shepherded by each males — by the primary eight video games.
Lastly, Zverev misplaced his serve within the ninth recreation, giving de Minaur a transparent path to take not solely the set, however the match. The Australian made good on that effort, with the ultimate rating line studying 6-1, 6-4 de Minaur. The victory tied the rating between the 2 groups at 3-3
But, de Minaur’s work for the day was not completed. He was set to return to play a doubles match within the evening session with No. 32 Alex Michelsen towards No. 11 Holger Rune (Denmark) and No. 12 Casper Ruud (Norway).
Initially Revealed: September 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM PDT
