American tennis player John Isner stunned Spain's Rafa Nadal at the Laver Cup. The 31-year-old defeated the Spaniard in a tight match 7-5 7-6 (7-1). Isner has defeated Nadal for the first time ever. However, the Laver Cup is not an ATP event.
Isner opened the match in style, breaking Nadal in the first game. Nadal had a break point to level it all in the following game but didn't realize his chance. However, Nadal managed to break Isner in the 10th game but got broken once again in the 11th game. The American then routinely served out for the first set.
Both players comfortably held their serves until the ninth game of the second set. Isner had a break point for a 5-4 lead, but Nadal managed to shrug off the threat. As no breaks of serve were seen, the set went into a tie-break. Isner opened up a 3-0 tie-break lead and never looked back to seal the win.
Isner had a strong day on his serve. The big-serving American fired 23 aces and won 91 percent of his first serve points. Isner also broke twice Nadal and saved 2-of-3 of the Spaniard's break point chances. Nadal hit nine aces and won 74 percent of his first serve points during the match. It took an hour and a half for the match to come to an end.
Querrey not so lucky
German tennis player Alexander Zverev has also earned a win at the Laver Cup on Sunday.
The 20-year-old saw off American Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4. The two players met for the first time ever.
Both players held their serves until the seventh game. Zverev converted his first break point of the match to open up a 4-3 lead. The German then comfortably served out for the first set.
It didn't take long for Zverev to break Querrey in the second set.
The decisive break of the match came in the first game of the second set. The German stuck to his service on his way to clinching straight sets win.
Zverev hit five aces, won 75 percent of his first serve and 86 percent of his second serve points. The 20-year-old converted each two of his break point chances and gave no break point chances to Querrey.
The American fired 14 aces but it just wasn't enough. The match came to an end after an hour and three minutes of action.
Clash still alive
Team Europe now has a 12-9 lead over Team World at the Laver Cup. A win on Sunday brings three points. Americans Isner and Jack Sock brought Team World after beating Team Europe's Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic in the opening match of the day. Zverev of Team Europe got his side back on the winning terms before Team World's Isner beat Nadal.
Swiss Roger Federer and Nick Kyrgios are currently playing at the Laver Cup. Federer is eyeing to seal the win for Team Europe. The first team to reach 13 points will end winner in Prague. If Kyrgios beats Federer, it will all be tied at 12-12. If that happens, a final overtime doubles match will be the case.