Best pictures & videos from Laver Cup 2021 - featuring awkward Stefanos Tsitsipas, hilarious Andrey Rublev & confused Daniil Medvedev
The 2021 Laver Cup has come to an end amid much pomp and zeal. Team Europe thrashed Team World 14-1 to win their fourth consecutive title, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev all playing key roles.
While the score was very lopsided, the entertainment wasn't. The top players in action were on fire on the court as well as off it, letting both their games and their personalities shine.
Here is a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the Laver Cup, in the form of pictures, videos and gifs.
Team Europe's hilarious celebrations
Team Europe was a mishmash of unique personalities, and their various idiosyncrasies came to the fore during their celebratory moments. From Andrey Rublev's childishness to Feliciano Lopez's drunkenness, this Twitter thread captures it all.
I haven’t stopped watching the mess of a champagne celebration that happened this evening. I haven’t stopped laughing either. Some of my fav highlights here 🍾 🏆
Daniil facepalming before he even knew what was about to happen https://t.co/0ROayj48uI
Andrey Rublev used Daniil Medvedev as a human shield as he tried to protect himself from the champagne flying all around.
Bunny hopping pt 1 (also, daniil’s dimples and matteo dying) https://t.co/I9JKB95AhM
Rublev using Medvedev as human shield against champagne #LaverCup
🎥@Eurosport_RU https://t.co/okBfNm9FzA
Andrey Rublev and Matteo Berrettini's camaraderie over the weekend led to some fans "shipping" them. The Russian was in a bit of trouble after getting some champagne in his eye, and quickly turned to Berrettini for assistance.
The way andrey is asking for matteo after the champagne went inside his eye 😭😭😭 ship confirmed yall https://t.co/i9Dboj85iz
Stefanos Tsitsipas couldn't resist joining in the frolic despite looking unwilling to get his hands dirty at first.
Tsi judging the mess he’s witnessing and finally joining in on that same mess 🤣 (tsilev/andrenos at its best 🔥) https://t.co/4DMTHjf6Jf
Then there was a hilarious clip of Feliciano Lopez calling out for Andrey Rublev - whom he nicknamed 'MVP' - to drink champagne from the trophy.
Andrey: “I CANNOT SEE!”
Feli: “Wait, where’s the MVP? RUBLYEV”
Matteo: “RUBLYEV”
Feli: “RUBLYEV COME HERE”
Andrey: “My eyes” 😭 https://t.co/ZjZnksJWDi
It didn't take long for Rublev to oblige, gulping down copious amounts of champagne as the rest cheered on.
Feli: “MVP is gonna have a sip” https://t.co/5pbnMrJXBO
Andrey Rublev tries to go for a kiss
The kiss-cam is an American staple at big sporting events. Andrey Rublev mimicked the tradition at the Laver Cup by trying to kiss Team Europe's Bjorn Borg, who seemed completely clueless.
Quick kiss cam featuring Rublev and Borg…. 😂 https://t.co/rGjeLaMCP0
Daniil Medvedev being the judgemental friend of the group
Daniil Medvedev seemed a little unsure of Andrey Rublev's celebratory gesture, where the 23-year-old seemed to be licking Feliciano Lopez.
Caption this 😂
@LaverCup | #TeamEurope https://t.co/vgpDT6QeAV
Medvedev also seemed a little bemused when Rublev was chugging down the champagne from the Laver Cup trophy.
Daniil wondering what has gotten into andrey https://t.co/LkzZTTAh6m
Andrey Rublev lets the trophy go
Even if Rublev let this one fall, Team Europe wouldn't be too upset given their dominance at the event and their ability to win many more in the future.
Andrey being Andrey 😆💙 https://t.co/QRfkim4tEV
Daniil Medvedev's one-of-a-kind forehands and volleys
Unlike Roger Federer, Daniil Medvedev isn't known to be the most graceful player on court. Despite a rather awkward fall, the Russian still managed to hit his forehand - before quickly getting back up and pretending that it didn't happen.
😭😭😭
🎥@Eurosport_RU https://t.co/JJz4IXzJd1
He also pulled off some pretty memorable volleys - albeit memorable only because of how bad they were.
Doubles🐐 discussion is over #medvedev https://t.co/OfwicSIBFN
But Medvedev found the whole experience "amazing, amazing, amazing"!
Lost for words or simply "amazing"?
@DaniilMedwed and Team Europe share a laugh.
#LaverCup https://t.co/2q9SJbLDML
Social distancing
After changing his stance on vaccines, Tsitsipas can be seen wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing as well. The presence of frenemy Daniil Medvedev is coincidental.
Best friends 🤗 https://t.co/gjfFBNCRhQ
Rublev continues to shine as the funny man
Stefanos Tsitsipas' meteoric rise to the top
Given how quickly Stefanos Tsitsipas has risen to the top, it's easy to forget the hardships the youngster had to endure to find himself in the company of the sport's elite. Here he can be seen showing Bjorn Borg the intricacies of photography - something that the Greek is passionate about.
a few years ago stefanos tsitsipas was playing tennis on hard courts that had holes in them and now he’s sitting with bjorn fucking borg showing him how a professional camera works 😭 twitter.com/mattracquet/st…
In the past, Stefanos Tsitsipas has often talked about how he wants to learn from Bjorn Borg and how the Swede inspires him to improve himself. In fact, Tsitsipas' hairstyle is also modeled on Borg's look from the 1980s.
Here, we can see the pupil imitating his coach and role model to perfection.
the way he copies borg 🥺 https://t.co/D1QM9mdni8
Nick Kyrgios' dance fail
Some people have two left feet and then there's Nick Kyrgios.
The Kyrgios dance moves are as rusty as the tennis https://t.co/3IydZX9Nh6
Stefanos Tsitsipas stirs up another minor controversy
Stefanos Tsitsipas took some additional time to replace shoelaces during his match against Nick Kyrgios, causing a slight delay. Compared to his bathroom break controversy during the 2021 US Open though, "shoegate" seems relatively minor.
shoegate!! https://t.co/TJoz2RIh3h
Stefanos Tsitsipas' moments of awkwardness
Stefanos Tstitsipas spent much of the event being his usual socially awkward self. Here's a clip of him trying - and failing - to open a bottle of champagne while the rest do it in a jiffy.
yeah.. he just never knows what he’s doing 😭 https://t.co/mOudC8dNgk
Tsitsipas' clumsiness almost ruined Matteo Berrettini's perfect face. Fortunately it wasn't serious and the duo laughed it off.
HELP 😭😭😭 https://t.co/Q6iBnBaaR6
The Greek's awkwardness also rubbed off on Andrey Rublev, who had his share of mistimed high-fives to be embarrassed about.
Rublev's disappointment 🥺🥺 https://t.co/joXD7nagA7
Of course, when the two were on court together, their celebrations were all kinds of awkward. In the clip below, Tsitsipas seems to be going for a chest bump and Rublev for a hug, and the result is a strange collision of sorts that left the viewers in splits.
Team Europe has their signature doubles celebration all sorted out 👯♂️ #rublev #tsitsipas https://t.co/heD7QIk8yL
But Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas' joint interviews - after they won their doubles match together - were peak entertainment. Tsitsipas had called Rublev the "funniest guy of the group" earlier, and the Russian proved that in nearly every interaction he had over the weekend.
Andrey Rublev is consistently hilarious. His sense of humor sneaks up on you.
#LaverCup
https://t.co/XEYn85cvz8
This exchange between Stefanos Tsitsipas & Andrey Rublev lol
RUBLEV: Tomorrow, I think tomorrow Stef is playing singles.
TSITSIPAS: Am I? Am I? I don't know.
RUBLEV: I'm talking too much here.
TSITSIPAS: Yeah, I guess.
RUBLEV: We don't know who's playing tomorrow. https://t.co/7SkDOHQwJh