Tennis-Newcomers fire as Team World make strong start to Laver Cup defence

Tennis - Laver Cup - Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland - September 20, 2019 General view of the Laver Cup trophy before the start of play REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

(Reuters) -Defending champions Team World took a 4-0 lead over Team Europe on the opening day of the Laver Cup in Vancouver on Friday, as Ben Shelton, Francisco Cerundolo and Felix Auger-Aliassime all won their singles matches.

The three-day tournament, viewed as tennis' answer to golf's Ryder Cup, offering fans a rare opportunity to see the sport's top players team up, is without the likes of the retired Roger Federer, the injured Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic this year.