De Minaur channels Federer’s playbook, upsets Zverev at Laver Cup

Alex de Minaur turned his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Alexander Zverev upside down Saturday at the Laver Cup.

The Australian upset the No. 3 player in the PIF ATP Rankings 6-1, 6-4 to draw Team World level with Team Europe at three points each. Team World’s Francisco Cerundolo faces Team Europe’s Holger Rune to close the day session.

“I started out of the blocks pretty quickly and I was playing some great tennis,” De Minaur said. “I knew it was only going to get harder. He’s a great competitor. He was going to make my life very difficult, but utlimately I’m so proud of myself [for] backing myself in these important moments and getting a big win for Team World.”

Zverev entered the clash with an 8-2 lead in their rivalry and in De Minaur’s two victories, he needed three grueling sets to emerge victorious. But in San Francisco, De Minaur took advantage of the slow, low-bouncing conditions by changing his game.

Former World No. 1 Jim Courier noted in his on-court interview that De Minaur used his backhand slice to great effect, like Roger Federer, who was in the stands, used to do.

“I don’t want to say too much,” De Minaur said. “But he wrote the playbook, I just read it.”

The 10-time ATP Tour titlist saved three of the four break points he faced according to Infosys ATP Stats and converted four of his seven opportunities.