PROCEEDINGS are level after one day of action at the Laver Cup in Berlin, with the three singles and one doubles match taking place split between Team Europe and Team World. Despite the former stacked with five Top 10 players, Team World showed it is happy to embrace the underdog status and keep punching above its weight.

In the first match of the day, Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo continued on his fantastic form from the Davis Cup – where he beat US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper – to knock off Norwegian Casper Ruud in 98 minutes. Cerundolo won 6-4 6-4 to give Team World the early upset, and advantage on day one.

Though Ruud was serving at a far higher clip of 74 per cent compared to Cerundolo’s 58 per cent, the Argentinian was able to maximise his chances off his opponent’s second serve to win 52 per cent of the points and break three times to one throughout the course of the match.

The reliable Grigor Dimitrov got the tie back on an even keel with the Bulgarian grinding out a 7-6 7-6 battle with Chilean Alejandro Tabilo. Dimitrov needed two hours and 15 minutes to get the victory, powering home 11 aces to eight and winning 80 and 62 per cent of his first and second serve points in an entertaining contest.

The third match of the day saw a far more one-sided event with world number 12 Stefanos Tsitsipas taking on late inclusion and 78th ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis. Though the Aussie won in four sets just a few weeks back in the first round of the US Open, Tsitsipas sought his revenge with a commanding 6-1 6-4 result, perhaps aided by the fact that he was well rested compared to Kokkinakis’ run at Flushing Meadows and then Davis cup commitments.

Tsitsipas saved both break points he faced and won77 and 60 per cent of his first and second serves, all while producing a 6-1 6-4 victory. He broke early to go 3-1 up in the second and it was looking like a complete blowout, but to the Australian’s credit he rallied to make it more of a contest, but could not break back and lost in 81 minutes.

“It was important for us, Team Europe, to get a point, we didn’t start very well this morning but I’m very happy that I contributed a point,” Tsitsipas said.  “I was trying to redeem myself and go out on the court and not just do it for myself but for my whole team.”

Rounding out the day, American duo Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton – both of whom are expected to play singles over the next couple of days went up against top three players Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. While the latter pair would win both respective matches on a singles court more often than not, the partnership between Fritz and Shelton seemed to work.

In a tough contest across 95 minutes, it was Team World that levelled the scores with a 7-6 6-4 victory. Fritz and Shelton served eight aces to Alcaraz and Zverev’s three which might come as a little surprise, while winning 81 and 70 per cent of their first and second serve points. The German and Spaniard still won 72 and 71 per cent of their respective serve points, but could only break once compared to Team World’s twice.

LAVER CUP DAY ONE RESULTS:

Francisco Cerundolo (ARG/WOR) defeated Casper Ruud (NOR/EUR) 6-4 6-4
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL/EUR) defeated Alejandro Tabilo (CHI/WOR) 7-6 7-6
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/WOR) defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS/WOR) 6-1 6-4
T. Fritz/B. Shelton (WOR) defeated C. Alcaraz/A. Zverev (EUR) 7-6 6-4