Prague: Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer took Team Europe to within two wins of lifting the Laver Cup after they played doubles together for the first time, but ruled out a full-time partnership on the tour.
The world’s highest ranking duo handed Team Europe, skippered by Bjorn Borg, a 9-3 lead over Team World, captained by John McEnroe, after two days of action in Prague.
After Nadal and Federer had won their singles rubbers, all eyes at Prague’s sold-out O2 Arena were then on the two legends who played on the same side of the net for the first time in careers which have stretched the best part of two decades.
They started the doubles against Sam Querrey and Jack Sock on a high, earning a break in the first set to win 6-4.
They visibly enjoyed the experience, with Federer laughing off a massive air shot halfway through the set.
However, they were in far more serious mood in the second set as both lost their serve, allowing the American pair to level with a 6-1 win.
Much to their relief, the world’s top two players, with 35 Grand Slam singles titles between them, regained their composure in time to sweep their rivals 10/5 in a super tie- break.
But they both denied planning a future as a doubles pair, saying it was “not a good idea.”
“I don’t want to kill your expectations,” Federer told Nadal.
Nadal, 31, said he will remember the night he teamed up with his old rival and close friend for the first time. “It was unforgettable for both of us after the history we have behind us as rivals. Something we really enjoyed a lot,” he said.
“My last doubles was so long ago that I hardly remembered how to react at the net,” said Federer, forcing “You did extremely well!” from Nadal.
Wozniacki zooms to Pan Pacific title
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki romped to a 6-0, 7-5 victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Sunday to win her third WTA Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament.
The Danish former world number one needed only 75 minutes to complete the rout under the Tokyo sunshine, capturing her first title of the year after losing in six finals.
Third seed Wozniacki stormed through the first set in just 22 minutes, blazing winners past a stunned Pavlyuchenkova.
The Russian saved a match point in the 10th game of the second set before Wozniacki converted on her third opportunity, the world number six fizzing a backhand pass down the line to claim her 26th career title.
Ostapenko wins at Korea Open
Top seed Jelena Ostapenko clinched victory at the Korea Open on Sunday, defeating Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia in a closely contested three-set final. The 20-year-old French Open champion from Latvia rallied from a set down to beat the debutante finalist 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4.
