Thiem wins opening thriller against Shapovalov

Defending champions Team Europe claimed the first point of Laver Cup 2019 as Dominic Thiem won a dramatic match tiebreaker against Team World’s Denis Shapovalov in Geneva.

Three match points slipped by for Shapovalov as Team World once again suffered an agonizing day-one defeat, going down 6-4 5-7 13-11.

“I guess Denis and me continued where the Laver Cup last year stopped,” said Thiem.

“It’s a really special thing with the tiebreak in the third, it creates lots of close moments and match points on either side. It’s also a little bit of luck at the end.”

Europe extends its unbeaten run in opening-day singles matches to seven and takes an early 1-0 lead in the race to the 13 points that will secure victory on Sunday.

I can’t imagine this is only the first match – we started like this, with many more to come – Bjorn Borg

In a packed arena at Palexpo, the third edition of the Laver Cup got under way with a clash between two of the best shot-makers in the game – and it was Thiem who prevailed.

The Austrian, ranked 28 places higher at No.5 in the world, needed one break of serve in the first set before Shapovalov fought back to take the second.

It was the Canadian who made the early move in the 10-point tiebreak but a whipped forehand down the line brought Thiem back on serve.

GALLERY: Laver Cup 2019 begins

Shapovalov appeared to have done enough when a burst of quality brought him two match points at 9-7, but a framed backhand and a forehand winner from Thiem squared it at 9-9.

Match points then went begging for both players before Thiem made the decisive move at 11-11, dominating the next two rallies and securing victory when Shapovalov netted a forehand.

“I knew before it’s going to be a great competition,” saud Europe captain Bjorn Borg.

“I can’t imagine this is only the first match – we started like this, with many more to come. Dominic played well and did a great effort to win this match.”

Jack Sock will attempt to get Team World on the board when he faces Europe’s Fabio Fognini in the second singles match of Friday’s afternoon session.

Game Insight Group analysis

• Team Europe’s Dominic Thiem went into the first match of the 2019 Laver Cup with a predicted win chance of 64% over Team World’s Denis Shapovalov.

• After a commanding first set win, Thiem’s chances were up to 85%, the most important moment being Game 3 when Thiem gained +14 percentage points toward the win.

• Denis Shapovalov’s turnaround in the second brought his odds back to where they were at the start of the match, from 15% at the end of Set 1 to 36% after Set 2.

• In the rollercoaster third set, Shapovalov forced the contest to even odds by taking two minibreaks from Thiem. But it was Thiem who managed to save three match points to put Team Europe 1-0 up.