Berrettini battles to give Europe 2-0 Laver Cup lead

Italy’s Matteo Berrettini saved 12 of 13 break points to edge Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (7-3) 7-5 10-8 in the second match of the Laver Cup in Boston on Friday.

On a slow court, there big-hitting Italian had to battle to beat Auger-Aliassime to give Team Europe a 2-0 lead in the series.

“I was just fighting. The match was really hard,” Berrettini said.

“Felix was playing really good, not giving me anything, no mistakes, serving really well. I felt a different energy. I’m playing for my team, not just for my myself. It felt great.”

Auger-Aliassime broke first, taking a 4-2 lead in the opening after a Berrettini forehand error.

But the Canadian, 21, could not make good and fell back as Berrettini forced a tiebreak.

Auger-Aliassime finally broke through on his eighth set point to take the first set.

The second was Berrettini’s in a set that again saw both players having chances before Auger-Aliassime scooped a forehand short that gave the Italian the set.

But third was an amazing scene with a 10-point tiebreak as Berrettini, at t 9-8, sent a crosscourt shot that eluded his opponent to take the match.

“It was a great match. They almost played for three hours,” Team Europe Captain Bjorn Borg said.

Earlier Casper Ruud beat American Reilly Opelka 6-3 7-6 (7-4).