WATCH: Ben Shelton wipes his hands after giving Francisco Cerundolo congratulatory pat following Argentine's win over Casper Ruud at Laver Cup 2024
Ben Shelton wiped his hands after giving his 2024 Laver Cup teammate Francisco Cerundolo a congratulatory pat. This happened after the Argentine put Team World on the board with his win over Team Europe's Casper Ruud.
Cerundolo faced Ruud in the opening match of Day 1 of the Roger Federer-backed team event in Berlin, Germany, on September 20. While it initially seemed that the Norwegian would come out on top, he appeared underconfident and unstable, ultimately succumbing to a 4-6, 4-6 loss.
After his victory, Francisco Cerundolo joined his teammates, who congratulated him on his win which saw him become the lowest-ranked player (World No. 31) to defeat a Top 10 player in Laver Cup history. Among those was Ben Shelton, who gave the 26-year-old a supportive pat on the back before wiping his hands on his pants.
Watch the video here:
Stefanos Tsitsipas leveled the score at 1-1 after delivering a commanding win for Team Europe. He faced Thanasi Kokkinakis and defeated the Aussie 6-1, 6-4, exacting revenge for his US Open first-round loss just a month ago.
Grigor Dimitrov will now take on Alejandro Tabilo in the final singles match of the day. This is the Bulgarian's second appearance at the Laver Cup, having stepped in as a replacement for Rafael Nadal, who withdrew just days before the tournament began.
Ben Shelton/Taylor Fritz set to play doubles against Carlos Alcaraz/Alexander Zverev at Laver Cup 2024
The 2024 Laver Cup guarantees exciting matches each day, with a star-studded roster. While Day 1 features three singles matches, the spotlight will be on the doubles fixture between Team World's Ben Shelton & Taylor Fritz and Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz & Alexander Zverev.
Shelton and Fritz were crucial to their team's success last year when they won the prestigious title in Vancouver, Canada. Zverev is a familiar presence as this year marks his fifth appearance, making him one of the most seasoned players in the lineup. The only odd one out is Alcaraz, who is set to make his Laver Cup debut.
Team Europe is the most successful team in the tournament's history, having lifted the trophy four times (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021). In contrast, their rivals have claimed victory twice, in 2022 and 2023.
This year also marks the final stint for team captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, who will be replaced by Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah in 2025 when the event takes place in San Francisco, United States.