Novak Djokovic stars as Europeans take Laver Cup control over Team World

Novak Djokovic produced a stunning performance to thrash Frances Tiafoe in his first match since winning Wimbledon in July then teamed up with Matteo Berrettini to put Team Europe in command in the Laver Cup.

With Roger Federer watching on from courtside at a sold out O2 Arena, the day after his emotional farewell match alongside Rafa Nadal, Djokovic returned to action in spellbinding fashion.

US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe was helpless to stop the Djokovic onslaught as the Serb won 6-1, 6-3 to put Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe into a 6-4 lead overall. He then joined Berrettini, the man he beat in the 2021 Wimbledon final, to beat Team World duo Jack Sock and Alex De Minaur 7-5, 6-2 to give Team Europe an 8-4 lead heading into Sunday’s final four matches. Individual matches were worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday. Thirteen points are required to win the trophy.

After Federer’s memorably tear-jerking final match the previous night, day two could have been an anti-climax but the quality of the tennis, and the presence of the Swiss great on the bench, ensured a superb spectacle.

Berrettini, who replaced 20-time grand slam champion Federer for the singles, won a hard-hitting duel against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (11), 4-6, 10-7.

But American Taylor Fritz drew Team World level at 4-4 in the day’s second match with a tight win against Briton Cameron Norrie - a stand-in for Nadal who left earlier in the day for personal reasons. Fritz won 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 as John McEnroe’s Team World showed that they are made of sterner stuff this year having been trounced 14-1 last year in Boston.

Federer, watching every ball along with the rest of his Team Europe colleagues including Andy Murray, did his best to