Frances Tiafoe, the American teenager who played for Team World in the opening match against Marin Cilic, could not help letting his shoulders slump after a crucial backhand approach smacked into the net.

Or in the case of Nick Kyrgios, the rambunctious Australian, plenty of room to dive forward and slide on his chest, volleyball style, after Isner, his fellow member of Team World, hit an outrageously good forehand to end an epic rally late in the first set against Thiem.

We were clearly a long way from Wimbledon, just as we remained when Kyrgios & Co. later led the crowd in a wave and celebrated points won by Shapovalov in the second-set tiebreaker against Zverev by walking forward on their hands and reeling off a few push-ups each.

Just as we remained as Isner, no youngster himself at age 32, later choreographed a pantomime volleyball match that included a spike sans ball as Sock and Kyrgios were on their way to saving some face for Team World.

Rafael Nadal, center, briefly shifted into coaching mode to offer advice to Bjorn Borg, left, and Dominic Thiem on Friday.Credit Martin Divisek/European Pressphoto Agency “It was a fun moment with the crowd, and then it was back to serious,” Zverev said.