MANY of the world’s best ATP Tour players have descended on Boston in the United States, with Team Europe looking to maintain their unbeaten record against Team World. Whilst the Europeans are far more highly ranked – their lowest ranked player is ranked higher than the best Team World – the head-to-heads show it may not be as one-sided as the rankings suggest.

HISTORY:

2019: Team Europe defeated Team World 13-11
2018: Team Europe defeated Team World 13-8
2017: Team Europe defeated Team World 15-9

Team Europe is yet to lose to Team World, with the former always having the far higher ranked players at the event. Very few of these players have faced off in previous editions of the Laver Cup, with Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas the other previous players. Zverev defeated Denis Shapovalov 7-6 7-6 in 2017 and John Isner 3-6 7-6 10-7 in 2018, before losing to Isner in the most recent 2019 edition, 6-7 6-4 10-1. Tsitsipas only played the one singles in 2019 to defeat Taylor Fritz who is not playing in 2021.

HEAD-TO-HEADS: (Overall | Hard)

Daniil Medvedev
vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (2-0 | 2-0)
vs. Denis Shapovalov (1-2 | 1-2)
vs. Diego Schwartzman (6-0 | 5-0)
vs. Reilly Opelka (4-1 | 3-1)
vs. John Isner (2-0 | 2-0)
vs. Nick Kyrgios (0-2 | 0-1)

As the clear top ranked player and in-form talent, Daniil Medvedev will be hard to beat regardless of who he players, with winning records against four of the six opponents. If you are Team World, Shapovalov and Nick Kyrgios look to be the best bets, with Diego Schwartzman the easiest opponent for the Russian.

Stefanos Tsitsipas
vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (5-2 | 4-1)
vs. Denis Shapovalov (1-3 | 0-3)
vs. Diego Schwartzman (1-1 | 0-1)
vs. Reilly Opelka (1-1 | 1-1)
vs. John Isner (4-2 | 3-1)
vs. Nick Kyrgios (0-2 | 0-2)

Tsitsipas does not have the same kind of record against opponents as Medvedev with only two opponents being a positive win-loss record. They are Isner and Felix Auger-Aliassime, with the Greek talent having issues against Shapovalov and Kyrgios in particular, with the pair perhaps the two to face the two highest ranked players.

Alexander Zverev
vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (3-1 | 2-0)
vs. Denis Shapovalov (4-2 | 3-2)
vs. Diego Schwartzman (3-2 | 3-1)
vs. Reilly Opelka (NP)
vs. John Isner (6-2 | 4-2)
vs. Nick Kyrgios (3-4 | 3-4)

Zverev is comfortable against most players, and is yet to lose to Auger-Aliassime on hard. He would be able to face most of them, having at least beaten Kyrgios three times unlike the two players ranked above him. He has had more issues against Schwartzman however, preferring the bigger players over the hard running ones.

Andrey Rublev
vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (2-0 | 1-0)
vs. Denis Shapovalov (2-2 | 2-2)
vs. Diego Schwartzman (0-1 | NP)
vs. Reilly Opelka (NP)
vs. John Isner (0-3 | 0-2)
vs. Nick Kyrgios (1-1 | 1-1)

Having only really bolted up the order in the pandemic times, Rublev is still building his win-loss record against the best players. Yet to play Schwartzman or Reilly Opelka on hard, and having only ever played Shapovalov (four times) on hard more than twice, Rublev will likely prefer Auger-Aliassime and Opelka, with a 0-2 record against Isner.

Matteo Berrettini
vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (2-1 | 0-1)
vs. Denis Shapovalov (0-2 | 0-2)
vs. Diego Schwartzman (1-1 | NP)
vs. Reilly Opelka (0-1 | 0-1)
vs. John Isner (NP)
vs. Nick Kyrgios (1-0 | NP)

The Italian does not have pretty reading here, yet to defeat an opponent on hard court, though at least he is yet to lose to Kyrgios. He has beaten Auger-Aliassime twice on grass, but not ever on hard, and is yet to win in minimal encounters against Shapovalov and Isner.

Casper Ruud
vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime (2-0 | 2-0)
vs. Denis Shapovalov (1-0 | NP)
vs. Diego Schwartzman (2-4 | 1-2)
vs. Reilly Opelka (2-0 | 1-0)
vs. John Isner (1-1 | 1-0)
vs. Nick Kyrgios (1-0* | NP)

The lowest ranked player surprisingly has a strong record against most players on hard court. Whilst Schwartzman is the player to have given him the most trouble, he is undefeated against Auger-Aliassime and Isner on hard court. Then there is the famous default in his favour on clay against Kyrgios in a head-to-head everyone is hoping occurs.

SCHEDULE:

DAY 1 – September 24 (1pm, 7pm local time | 3am, 9am September 25 AEST)

Day: Singles x2
Night: Singles & Doubles

DAY 2 – September 25 (1pm, 7pm local time | 3am, 9am September 26 AEST)

Day: Singles x2
Night: Singles & Doubles

DAY 1 – September 26 (12pm local time | 2am September 27 AEST)

Singles x4

SUMMARY:

It is hoped this contest can go down to the wire, with Kyrgios remarkably good against all the top players, though no doubt he would love to face off against his nemesis Ruud in what would provide plenty of fireworks. Medvedev’s form should see him, Tsitsipas and Zverev play extra singles, with the extra singles instead of a doubles clash on the final day allowing Rublev to also play an extra match. For Team World, the Canadians in Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov should be handed singles, as should Kyrgios and Schwartzman, though being in the United States, more than likely the experienced Isner will be given that chance.

Picture credit: Laver Cup