Casper Ruud made a winning start for Team Europe at the Laver Cup in San Francisco. The Norwegian earned his third first-day win at this competition after besting Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 27 minutes.
Casper served at 80% and defended both break points en route to his fifth triumph over Reilly in as many encounters. The American claimed only ten points on the return and tried to follow the rival's pace.
Opelka lost serve once in the first set and served well in the second before dropping a tie break. Ruud tamed his strokes nicely and remained under ten unforced errors.
Interestingly, the Norwegian faced two break points in the second game. He denied them with fine hitting and held with a fine attack to avoid an early setback. Ruud stepped in on the return at 2-2 and landed a crafty return to draw the rival's error and provide the only break of the duel.
The better-ranked player held at love in game six with a backhand down the line winner. Casper provided another hold at love with a service winner for 5-3 and served for the opener two games later.
ADVERTISEMENT
Reilly served well in the second set and stayed in contention. He held after a deuce in game seven and painted a forehand crosscourt winner two games later for a hold at love and a 5-4 lead.
Casper stayed focused while serving to stay in the set two times and introduced a tie break. Opelka missed a routine forehand in the fourth point and fell 3-1 behind, which would prove crucial.
Ruud cemented the mini-break with two service winners before his rivals landed two direct points and reduced the gap to 5-4. The Norwegian hit another unreturned serve in the tenth point and created twomatch points.
He seized the first with a backhand winner to emerge at the top and provide the first point for Team Europe.
