Laver Cup – After the retirement of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic crushes France Tiafoe for his return to competition

He needed to play. For his big return to competition since Sunday July 10, the date of his coronation at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic proved that he was still in good shape by outclassing his opponent. His victim: France Tiafoe. Recent semi-finalist at the US Open in singles, the American was swallowed whole by the former world No. 1 in two sets (6-1, 6-3), at the O2 Arena in London. Djokovic folded the case in 1h14.

Consequence for the Laver Cup: Team Europe is back in front with two new points and is now leading 6/4 against Team World. In the wake of his single, Djoko will also play doubles alongside Matteo Berrettini against the pair Alex De Minaur / Jack Sock.

A first set in destruction mode

As for his match, Djokovic did “old school” by getting his hands on it and not letting go. He flew over the first act with some pretty staggering numbers. Hang on: this one lasted 23 minutes flat, Djoko lost no points behind his engagement, passed 14 first balls out of 16, committed only 1 unforced error and slammed 9 winning shots. A total tennis that annihilated the fiery Tiafoe, broke from the first exchanges.

The American upped his game slightly in the second run, but that wasn’t enough to derail the Serbian grinding machine. Author of the entry break, Djokovic then had to save a break point behind his commitment in stride at 6-1, 1-0, 30/40. But at the end of a rally in rhythm, as he likes them, he bent Tiafoe with a superb cross acceleration on the backhand. This break point was the only incident of this return match for the Belgrade player. That is to say if the level has been raised.