In Berlin, two legends say goodbye

Before the 2017 Cup, named after Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, celebrated its premiere in Prague’s O2 Arena, the top players were initially not very enthusiastic. How about adding another week of tournaments to their already jam-packed schedule? But after co-founders and co-organizers Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had given their consent and all financial questions had been clarified (in addition to an entry fee based on the position in the world rankings, there is 250,000 euros in prize money for each player on the winning team), all doubts were quickly dispelled.

Since 2019, the Laver Cup, whose venue alternated annually between Europe and a city outside the “old continent” (until now always in North America), has been part of the ATP Tour. And the duel between Europe and the rest of the world (six players are nominated per team, captains are the legends Björn Borg and John McEnroe, there are no world ranking points) has already served up some highlights. The doubles appearance of Nadal and Federer in London in 2022 will remain unforgettable. For the Swiss, it was the last match of his career, and both superstars cried bitterly on the bench afterwards. In the end, Team World celebrated its first victory in the fifth encounter and was able to repeat this success last year in Vancouver.

Starting Friday, the tennis aces will cross their rackets for the seventh time, once in Berlin’s Uber Arena. Team Europe is eager for revenge after the 2:13 defeat in 2023 (nine singles and three doubles will be played in three days). According to the world rankings, the chances of this are very good: Alex Zverev (ATP No. 2), Carlos Alcaraz (3), Daniil Medvedev (5), Casper Ruud (9), Grigor Dimitrov (10) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (12) are the clear favorites on the tennis court against Taylor Fritz (7), Frances Tiafoe (16), Ben Shelton (17), Alejandro Tabilo (22), Francisco Cerundolo (31) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (78).

And that’s despite the fact that they have to do without three top players: world number one Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic (4) and Nadal. However, Team World is also missing two top players due to injury: Alex de Minaur (11) and Tommy Paul (13).

But Berlin is also a time for two farewells. Both Borg and McEnroe will be serving as captains for the last time. Their successors have already been chosen: Andre Agassi will lead Team World in San Francisco in 2025 and Yannick Noah will lead Team Europe.