Norwegian Casper Ruud began proceedings with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over American Reilly Opelka.

World number seven Matteo Berrettini then doubled the European's lead as he overcame US Open semi-finalist Félix Auger-Aliassime 6-7, 7-5, 10-8 via a deciding tiebreak.

It was the longest match in the history of the Laver Cup and the Italian saved 12 of 13 break points en route to victory. 

It look Berrettini two hours and 52 minutes to get past the Canadian.

Andrey Rublev of Russia further strengthened the visitors' position with a 4-6, 6-3, 11-9 win over Argentina's Diego Schwartzman.

Team World later avoided an opening-day whitewash with a doubles victory.

Canada's Denis Shapovalov and American John Isner saw off Berrettini and Germany's Alexander Zverev 4-6, 7-6, 10-1 in the first doubles match to make it 3-1 overall.

This is the fourth edition of the Laver Cup, which sees six men's players from Europe and take on Team World in a series of singles and doubles matches.

Berrettini, Ruud and Rublev are joined by Russian world number two and US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, and Germany's Zverev.

Nick Kyrgios of Australia joins Shapovalov, Schwartzman, Isner, Auger-Aliassime and Opelka on John McEnroe's Team World.

Europe, captained by Swedish legend Björn Borg, have won all three previous editions of the competition.

Play continues tomorrow as Tsitsipas takes on Kyrgios, Zverev faces Isner and Medvedev meets Shapovalov in the singles matches before Rublev and Tsitsipas play Isner and Kyrgios in the doubles.