Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych lost to Australian Nick Kyrgios and Wimbledon doubles champion Jack Sock by the score of 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-10 at the Laver Cup.
Berdych lost his serve halfway through the first set as off-court friends Kyrgios and Sock seemed far more comfortable on the black court of Prague’s O2 Arena. Rafa and Berdych regained some momentum in the second set, but the Team World duo grabbed the super tie-break.
Rafa on Day 1:
The first set they were better than us, but later it was close. We started to return more and be more aggressive.
I’m happy the way the day went, we had a couple of wins that were super close and we could lose.
We have a good result for our team. Happy to go to back to bed with 3-1 and tomorrow is another day.
After opening day, Europe holds a 3-1 lead. Victories in Saturday’s matches will be worth two points, and Sunday’s contests will reward three points for prevailing.
Rafael Nadal enters the arena playing with Tomas Berdych of Team Europe ahead of there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal serves playing with Tomas Berdych of Team Europe during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe celebrate winning a point during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe celebrate winning a point during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe celebrate winning a point during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal serves playing with Tomas Berdych of Team Europe during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe celebrate winning a point during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe celebrate winning a point during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal playing with Tomas Berdych of Team Europe celebrates winning a point during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe in action during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe in action during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych of Team Europe react during there doubles match against Nick Kyrgios ans Jack Sock of Team World on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)
Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock of Team World celebrate at the nate after winning there doubles match against Tomas Berdych and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock of Team World celebrate at the nate after winning there doubles match against Tomas Berdych and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock of Team World celebrate at the nate after winning there doubles match against Tomas Berdych and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock of Team World celebrate at the nate after winning there doubles match against Tomas Berdych and Rafael Nadal of Team Europe on the first day of the Laver Cup on September 22, 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic. The Laver Cup consists of six European players competing against their counterparts from the rest of the World. Europe will be captained by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will captain the Rest of the World team. The event runs from 22-24 September. (Sept. 21, 2017 – Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
Source: AFP
An extremely bad choice from team captain Borg. First what is Berdych n. 19 doing among top 10 players, secondly why sacrifice Nadal by putting him to play doubles with Berdych? Stupid choice at best, lack of respect for Rafa at worst.
WAMOS Rafa who really cares about RF boosting his own image with his Laver cup organising? Forget this tournament and focus on events that will carry points and slams.
WAMOS RAFA
Yes of course it is a disappointment for us 😢and as we know Rafa is more a singles player than a doubles player. Puma, you made the point that Borg could have put him in the singles. Still, the other Europeans have done well 😀for us. The open ceremony and gala dinner photos were very nice 😀them meeting the fans, etc. Best wishes for the rest. Fiona in Paris
Puma there are two points for matches on saturday. Yesterday there was 1 point per match. So borg has saved roger and rafa for singles today as they are expected to win and hence more points and they are also playing doubles together tonight for more points. Rafa has just come on court so gotta dash but berdych was the captain’s choice – he has choice of 2 players but 4 have to be by atp ranking. Try and enjoy.
I wish it was on T.V. I would love to watch Rafa play some more Tennis.
All the laver cup tournament is watchable on youtube live
It is being televised on ESPN.
Kathie , the lava cup is televised on sky Action at midday UK time , evening session on SkySpArena at 7.15 pm UK time.Hope this helps.
Take a rest and than all the best for day two.vamossssssssssssss Champ🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾❤️🇺🇸
I’m really loving this event and concept. Great team atmosphere on both sides.
I’ll definitely tune in tomorow. Such high-level high quality competition and so entertaining.
All the best to Team Europe and Team World.
Such high energy positivity and support from each team’s sideline players. You can tell everyone is having great fun among such stiff competition. Just a pleasure to watch.
Take rest and than all the best for day two. Vamos Rafa!