Novak Djokovic won in the singles on his return to the tennis court on day two of the Laver Cup ©Getty Images

Singles and doubles victories for Serbia’s Novak Djokovic put Team Europe into the lead against Team World at the end of day two of the Laver Cup.

The teams were tied at 2-2 going into day two, after an opening day that featured the last professional tennis match in the career of Switzerland’s Roger Federer, who playing alongside great rival Rafael Nadal of Spain, was narrowly beaten in the day’s doubles game.

Matches on day two were worth two points for a win, and Europe took the lead when Italian Matteo Berrettini overcame Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in three sets.

Berrettini edged set one on a tiebreak by 13 points to 11, after Auger-Aliassime had earlier saved five set points.

Auger-Aliassime won set two 6-4 setting up a third set match tiebreak.

Berrettini dictated proceedings with his forehand in the third set breaker and after racing into a 7-2 lead, closed it out 10-7.

The second match of the day also went the distance between Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Taylor Fritz of the United States.

Fritz took the first set 6-1 in dominant style, before Norrie levelled proceedings by taking set two 6-4.

Novak Djokovic, left, embraces Matteo Berrettini after the pair win the doubles match to give Europe an overnight lead at the Laver Cup ©Getty Images
Novak Djokovic, left, embraces Matteo Berrettini after the pair win the doubles match to give Europe an overnight lead at the Laver Cup ©Getty Images

In the match tiebreak Fritz opened up an 8-4 lead before Norrie levelled the breaker at 8-8, with one rally lasting 25 shots.

Two consecutive unforced errors from the British player enabled Fritz to close it out 10-8 for Team World and level the overall match score at 4-4.

In the evening session at the 02 Arena in London, it was all about Djokovic, playing his first competitive matches since winning Wimbledon, in the same city back in July.

He started proceedings with a singles contest against Frances Tiafoe of the United States, and delivered a masterful display, showing no signs of rust after a long absence on the court, winning 6-1, 6-3 in just 72 minutes.

Djokovic then teamed up with Berrettini for the evening’s concluding doubles, and in an entertaining contest the pair defeated Alex De Minaur of Australia and Jack Sock of the US 7-5, 6-2.

The result means that Team Europe lead Team World 8-4 after day two, with 13 points the target to win the trophy.

Matches on the final day are worth three points for a win, meaning Europe need to win two of the four scheduled matches, while Team World need to win three to reach the target points total.