Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed that he gets more “excited” about the Laver Cup than any other tournament throughout the year.
The world No 11 has played in four of the seven editions of the men’s team event, making his debut in Geneva back in 2019, and is again representing Team Europe in Berlin this weekend.
Tsitsipas earned Europe’s first point of the 2024 competition during Friday’s day session, defeating Team World’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4 in a confident display.
That was a slice of revenge for the former world No 3, who had suffered a disappointing four-set loss to the Australian in the opening round of the US Open less than a month ago.
Aside from his Monte Carlo Masters triumph, it has been a tricky year for Tsitsipas, who reached just one Grand Slam quarter-final and ended his coaching relationship with dad Apostolos.
However, he now holds a 4-1 win-loss record in Laver Cup singles matches, with only Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev winning more singles matches at the tournament than him.
And, following his victory over Kokkinakis, he revealed he finds more excitement at the Laver Cup than anyone else.
“We have an incredible group of players and great captains guiding us,” said the Greek.
“I get more excited about a competition like the Laver Cup than any other tournament of the year. It brings out the best in me and I have always felt that I relate very well to the concept.
“I try to enjoy and learn as much as I can from this week because it teaches me a lot throughout my career.”
Action in Berlin is evenly poised heading into Day 2, with the score level at 2-2 following an intriguing opening day of action.
Tsitsipas’ win over Kokkinakis followed an opening win for Team World’s Francisco Cerundolo over Europe’s Casper Ruud, the Argentine winning 6-4, 6-4 to start the competition.
Grigor Dimitrov temporarily put Europe in front with victory over Alejandro Tabilo at the start of the night session, before Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton levelled proceedings with a doubles triumph against Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.
Tsitsipas will be back in action on Saturday night, playing doubles in the final match of the day alongside Casper Ruud, with the pair taking on Team World’s Ben Shelton and Alejandro Tabilo.
That will follow on from a Wimbledon and US Open rematch between Zverev and Fritz, which starts the night session.
Day session action pits Daniil Medvedev against Frances Tiafoe, before Alcaraz faces Shelton.
