Laver Cup, Day 1 Preview: Alcaraz-Zverev vs. Fritz-Shelton to follow three singles matches

Laver Cup typically opens a little quietly on Friday, as the players clear their throats and get used to their cheerleading duties again, and fans settle in for a long weekend of tennis. The big stars, and the make-or-break matches, will come later.

On paper, that looks like it will be true again in Berlin in 2024. The schedule features a couple of newcomers in Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alejandro Tabilo, and a couple of lower-key personalities in Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo. But fans get a taste of the potential fireworks to come with a nightcap doubles match between Carlos Alcaraz-Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz-Ben Shelton.

Here’s a look at look at each of Friday’s four matches. Going by the rankings, Team Europe is favored in each, but the head-to-head records tell a different story. Europe is the favorite for the Cup overall, which means World will want to steal any wins they can in the early going to stay in touch on the scoreboard.

Casper Ruud vs. Francisco Cerundolo

This match might not be a crowd-rouser; Ruud and Cerundolo generally keep to themselves and go about their business. But it should be competitive. They’ve played six times, and split those matches 3-3. Somewhat surprisingly, Cerundolo won their only meeting on indoor hard courts, in Bercy last fall, before Ruud turned that around on clay at the Olympics this summer.

They also have similar playing styles, relying on their heavy-topspin forehands as their primary weapons. Neither has lost a match in LC—Ruud is 3-0, Cerundolo 1-0. Team World could really use an opening win from the Argentine, but I think Ruud’s experience and better serve will keep that from happening. Winner: Ruud

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis

These fellow Greeks only play on the biggest stages. Tsitsipas beat Kokkinakis in five sets at the Australian Open in 2021; Kokkinakis returned the favor with a four-set win at the US Open last month. Afterward, Tsitsipas said he was in the midst of a burnout spiral.

Which will matter more, Tsitsipas’s state of mind, or Kokkinakis’s lack of Laver Cup experience? Tsitsipas is making his fifth experience in the competition, and is 3-1 in singles. But with his win over Tsitsipas in New York, his traditional Aussie love of team play, and a presumably fast indoor surface beneath him, Kokkinakis might have the edge. Winner: Kokkinakis

Grigor Dimitrov vs. Alejandro Tabilo

This is almost a matchup of Laver Cup rookies. Tabilo is making his debut, while Dimitrov returns for the first time since 2018—a different era in tennis history, and in his own history.

Lack of Cup experience aside, the Bulgarian and the Brazilian have had strong seasons. Tabilo soared into the Top 25 after a breakout semifinal run in Rome, and made himself well-known enough to earn an invitation to this event. Dimitrov, meanwhile, cracked the Top 10 again at age 32. They’ve met once, on hard courts this year in Miami, and Dimitrov prevailed in a close three-setter that featured two 7-5 tiebreakers. Maybe we’ll see a repeat of that result in the rematch? Winner: Dimitrov

Carlos Alcaraz-Alexander Zverev vs. Taylor Fritz-Ben Shelton

Friday night lights. On one side, we have the game’s must-see star in Alcaraz teamed up with Berlin resident Zverev. On the other side, we have the US Open finalist, Fritz, partnering with Shelton, who possesses a bomb serve and an in-your-face style of celebrating.

Team Europe has the superior singles talent, as well as the best all-court player in Alcaraz. Team World has two guys who know each other somewhat better, and, in Fritz, an Olympic bronze medalist in doubles. Either way, it should be fun. Winner: Fritz-Shelton