LONDON — Replacing retired Roger Federer at the Laver Cup, 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini put Team Europe back in front as he edged World Team Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (11), 4-6 , 10-7 on Saturday.
Federer capped his career at the tag team event founded by his management company on Friday night. The 20-time Grand Slam champion’s last match came in doubles alongside longtime rival Rafael Nadal, a loss to Team World’s Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock.
Federer stayed, however, and helped Berrettini by offering a coaching lead in Saturday’s opening singles match.
Berrettini, a 26-year-old Italian, was originally listed as a substitute in the European squad, and it was clear he would replace Federer, who said he had implemented his plan to retire after doubling the ATP and team captains. , Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
Like Federer, Nadal pulled out of the competition three days after their doubles match.
Nadal’s wife is expected to give birth to their first child soon.
Nadal, who holds the men’s record of 22 major titles, has also been battling injuries all season, including a torn abdominal, but said he wanted to be part of Federer’s farewell.
“For me it was important, because I knew it was important for him,” said Nadal, who wept with Federer after their doubles match on Friday.
Berrettini’s win put the European team ahead 4-2, before Nadal’s substitute Cam Norrie faced Taylor Fritz in the second singles match of matchday two.
The most anticipated matches were to follow in the night session, with the return to competition of Novak Djokovic, who has not played since winning Wimbledon in July for his 21st Grand Slam trophy.
Djokovic, a 35-year-old Serbian, was unable to enter the US Open because he was not allowed to travel to the United States as a foreign citizen who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Djokovic was expected to do double duty on Saturday, facing US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe in singles, before partnering with Berrettini against Sock and Alex de Minaur in doubles.