Laver Cup: Matteo Berrettini battles past Felix Auger-Aliassime to restore Team Europe’s lead

Matteo Berrettini has given Team Europe a 4-2 lead over Team World after beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(11) 4-6 10-7.

Auger-Aliassime had enjoyed a clean first set but unforced errors crept into his game during a hard-fought tie-break.

The relief on Berrettini’s face was clear when he took a gruelling 86-minute first set on his seventh set point when Auger-Aliassime crashed a forehand into the net.

But the Canadian roared back in the second set. He broke the Berrettini serve to move into a 2-1 lead and did not give the Italian a single break point opportunity. Auger-Aliassime produced a love hold on his serve to force the decider.

The extended tie-break decider was efficiently wrapped up by Berrettini, whose powerful first serve proved too much for Auger-Aliassime.

More to follow…

• Federer hits freak shot THROUGH net, jokes ‘eye still good’ in farewell match
• ‘It’s exactly what I hoped for’ – Federer on ‘perfect journey’ coming to an end
• ‘Try it!’ – Federer and Nadal coach Murray in memorable changeover

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