The Laver Cup, the Ryder Cup of tennis, returns this weekend, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic headlining reigning champions Team Europe.
Last year’s Laver Cup event featured the marquee doubles team of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for Team Europe, helping clinch the Laver Cup for their teammates. This year Nadal wasn’t able to participate due to recuperation with his knee, but no worries, Federer was able to recruit another great rival, Novak Djokovic, to help him out.
“Laver Cup has a great team spirit – something we’re missing a little bit on the tour. So it’s great to see this concept and this format working well, and I wanted to be a part of it and have this great experience,” said Djokovic at the welcome ceremony at Chicago’s Pritzker Pavilion on Wednesday, as per Laver Cup news.
The Laver Cup is a version of the Ryder Cup, and although Team Europe won last year, Team World — including several U.S. players such as John Isner and Frances Tiafoe — will have the home advantage of playing at Chicago’s United Center. John McEnroe is back as their team captain.
“I’m very much looking forward to coaching this team,” said McEnroe, sitting alongside his younger brother, and Team World vice-captain, Patrick, at the welcome ceremony.
“We’re excited about getting the home-court advantage, hopefully, in Chicago. It’s a great sports town and we’re looking forward to showcasing our talents here this weekend.”
“We have some worthy opponents but they look very, dare I say, beatable,” added McEnroe.
A smiling Federer replied: “We’re ready.”
“Last year there was some unbelievable tennis played in Prague, we had a lot of fun and for me to spend a little time with these great players for a week was unbelievable,” said Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg. “It was a very close match, and this weekend I think there is going to be some great tennis and tight matches.
“But one thing I agree with John on is we are here to defend our title, and we’re going to keep the Cup in Europe,” added legend Borg.
Team Europe may have the highest ranked players, but as McEnroe pointed out at the Laver Cup event in New York a few weeks ago, during the U.S. Open time, Team World has the tallest players who he’s banking on out-serving the other team.
The Laver Cup is really the coolest tennis party of the year, with the best in men’s tennis playing all on the same team. Last year Team World was famous for their tactics on the sidelines, and the end score against Europe was actually closer than you would have thought.
“At Laver Cup we’re a team. That’s exciting and something we’re not used to,” Federer said on Wednesday. “To be on the same team as these legends – and legends in the making – and to spend a week getting to know these guys, is a wonderful way to celebrate tennis.”
One such legend is Rod Laver, “the rocket,” who the tournament is named after. Laver is the only tennis player to have completed the Calendar Grand Slam — not once, but twice, in 1962 and 1969 (Djokovic held all four Slams at one time, 2015-2016, but did not complete them all in the same calendar year).
“I’m honored that my name is associated with this trophy,” Laver said, sitting center stage at the welcome ceremony on Wednesday. “It’s also a thrill to have the Laver Cup here in Chicago. You’ll see some wonderful tennis and a lot of camaraderie.”
The Laver Cup player lineup will be announced on Thursday, September 20.
Team Europe consists of Roger Federer (2), Novak Djokovic (3), Alexander Zverev (5), Grigor Dimitrov (7), David Goffin (11), and Kyle Edmund (16), with Jeremy Chardy (41) as an alternate. Team World includes Kevin Anderson (9), John Isner (10), Diego Schwartzman (14), Jack Sock (17), Nick Kyrgios (27), Frances Tiafoe (40), and Nicholas Jarry (46) as an alternate.
The Laver Cup matches can be viewed on the Tennis Channel and Prime, beginning on Sept. 21.