Monfils v Auger-Aliassime Headlines Day 1 Laver Cup; Shelton v Fils

The sixth Laver Cup begins later today in Vancouver. The depleted field features no Grand Slam winners or Big 3 fan favorites, but the French, the Canadians and the youth are well represented.

In a good NextGen opener, US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton takes on the French teen Arthur Fils.

“Coming into this event, I thought I was going to be the rookie who never played before, probably playing against someone with a lot of experience playing in this type of situation. Then I end up playing someone who’s younger than me,” Shelton told the Laver Cup website. “I’m looking forward to it. I think it’ll be a great match.”

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is on next against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.

In the evening headliner, Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime takes on the entertainer from France, Gael Monfils.

“He was the quickest player I’d ever played against,” said Auger-Aliassime. “His defensive skills, his court coverage, was something that I hadn’t seen before, so I know what to expect tomorrow. That’s his big quality, still today at his age, at the latter stages of his career, is his court coverage, just how he’s able to make you play that extra ball.”

Doubles closes the day.

Team Europe leads overall 4-1 with Team World winning a stunner last year.

LAVER CUP FRIDAY SCHEDULE
ROGERS ARENA start 1 p.m.
Arthur Fils (Europe) vs Ben Shelton (World)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Europe) vs Francisco Cerundolo (World)

7 p.m.
Gael Monfils (Europe) vs Felix Auger-Aliassime (World)
Arthur Fils (EUR) / Andrey Rublev (Europe) vs Tommy Paul (World)/ Frances Tiafoe (World)

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