Ruud strikes first for Team Europe

For the fourth time in five years, Casper Ruud kicked off the Laver Cup on Day 1, giving Team Europe an early edge with a 6-4, 7-6(4) dismissal of Team World’s Reilly Opelka on Friday at Chase Center in San Francisco.

It marked the ultra-steady Norwegian’s fifth win in as many encounters with the 6-foot-11 American Opelka, which includes a 6-3, 7-6(4) decision at Laver Cup Boston in 2021.

“That was the goal, to be in the zone, make a lot of balls, make him play,” said Ruud, the owner of 13 career titles. “I’m really happy with the match. I was in the same position last year and lost, so it’s good to get some points for Team Europe.”

The oft-injured Opelka, who missed the better part of two years with wrist and hip injuries, looked like anything but a mere ‘servebot’ early on, going toe-to-toe from the baseline with his 12th-ranked foe. But with the 28-year-old Michigander serving at 2-all, 30-40 in the first set, Ruud smacked a backhand pass beyond his reach for the only break of the afternoon. A first-time ATP Masters 1000 champion earlier this year in Madrid, Ruud would go on to serve out the 37-minute first set at love.

Ruud, who rose to a career-high No. 2 after reaching the 2022 US Open final (where he fell to Team Europe cohort Carlos Alcaraz), knew he would have to withstand Opelka’s most potent weapon, his serve. He did that effectively, holding his opponent to nine aces and converting one of his two break-point opportunities. But it was on his serve that he perhaps shone most. He would land 80 percent of his first serves and win 88 percent of those points. Pushed to a second-set tiebreak, Ruud held his ground to put Team Europe on the board.

“He’s one of the best servers in the world,” said Opelka.

“I’m happy to hear that from him, but no,” Ruud deferred. “I told him at the net, ‘This is not a normal serving day for me.’ I wish it was, but it’s not. I have to be honest and say that. I don’t think I’ve ever been [at] 80 percent first serves in and playing really well behind it, so I’m really happy with it. I lost early at the US Open, so I had a few more days of practice at home than I would usually want, but you try to use them for something good, and I guess it paid off for the serve today.”

“I don’t know what else Reilly could have done,” said Team World vice-captain Patrick Rafter. “I don’t know how you get back Ruud’s serve today. He must have made 20 to 25 first-serves in a row. I’ve never seen a serving display like this in my life. It was impressive.”