Alexander Zverev beats Kevin Anderson as Team Europe retain Laver Cup

TEAM Europe retained their Laver Cup tennis crown as Alexander Zverev defeated Kevin Anderson to complete a 13-8 win over Team World.

Germany’s Zverev came from a set down to complete a 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 10-7 over Anderson as the Europeans successfully defended the title won in Prague last year.

Zverev’s win was the final act of an enthralling day of action at Chicago’s United Center, where the World team had roared back into contention in the day’s first rubber.

American duo John Isner and partner Jack Sock fought off two match points to defeat Zverev and world number two Roger Federer in a gripping doubles battle.

Isner and Sock prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11/9 to give the World team an 8-7 lead with the three singles rubbers remaining.

Europe responded superbly after that early setback however, with the 37-year-old Federer returning to secure a vital three points against Isner in the first singles match of the day.

The Swiss ace came from a set down to defeat the big-serving Isner 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6), 10/7.

The win was testimony to Federer’s remarkable physical conditioning.

The 20-time Grand Slam singles champion outlasted Isner less than an hour after he had been beaten in the day’s opening doubles game.

Federer celebrated the win by performing push-ups on court with his teammates to the delight of the crowd.

The next Laver Cup, which is named after Australian legend Rod Laver, will be staged in Geneva in September 2019.