Roger Federer, the retired tennis legend who contributed to Europe’s three Laver Cup victories, hinted that he might aspire to imagine the captaincy on the staff occasion sooner or later.
The 42-year-old Swiss star would be the topic of a tribute Friday at Rogers Enviornment to rejoice the primary anniversary of his closing match in doubles alongside Rafael Nadal on the 2022 Laver Cup in London.
The World Staff, with John McEnroe as captain, will attempt to defend the trophy it first captured final yr when the sixth Laver Cup begins Friday at Rogers Enviornment.
“There’s one thing in me that is Staff Europe,” Federer stated. “I am comfortable if the World wins, do not get me unsuitable, however by some means, I can really feel it deep inside – I would like Europe to win.
“I like being within the tennis sphere. Possibly at some point, I will be the captain of the staff. There aren’t any plans as of now, however I believe that could possibly be fairly good.”
Bjorn Borg serves as Staff Europe captain as a brand new era of expertise replaces Federer, Nadal and Serbia’s Novak Djokovic.
“Seeing the camaraderie, individuals from totally different international locations coming collectively in a staff, like me and Rafa or me and Novak, has been fantastic,” Federer stated.
“Seeing the enjoyable and the enjoyment that Borg and McEnroe have delivered to the groups but in addition how a lot they get pleasure from their roles has been nice.”
Seeing uncommon doubles duos is an enormous a part of the occasion for Federer.
“I get very enthusiastic about Laver Cup doubles as a result of there are often groups that we have not seen,” Federer stated. “I identical to famous person mixtures.”
An American-dominated lineup will attempt to defend the trophy for the World squad.
People Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime return from final yr’s international squad, which rallied to beat Europe in London after shedding the primary 4 editions of the indoor hardcourt occasion.
“Profitable final yr meant so much to us, much more so as a result of we misplaced so many instances,” Tiafoe stated.
Eighth-ranked Fritz, quantity 11 Tiafoe and 14th-ranked Auger-Aliassime are joined by Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, Ben Shelton, the youngest on the staff at 20, and fellow American Tommy Paul, the eldest of captain John McEnroe’s gamers at 26.
Staff Europe’s highest-ranked gamers had been Denmark’s fourth-rated Holger Rune and Greece’s fifth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas however each withdrew from Borg’s aspect as a result of accidents.
That leaves sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev and Norway’s ninth-ranked Casper Ruud because the veterans of a Europe squad that additionally consists of Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, French teen Arthur Fils, veteran Gael Monfils and Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Not large underdogs
“It appears like the primary time after we’re not the massive underdog getting into,” U.S. vice-captain Patrick McEnroe stated.
“It provides somewhat totally different wrinkle this time that each groups go in pondering OK it is not utterly one-sided whenever you take a look at the rankings.”
The most recent match-up in Vancouver options three singles matches and a doubles match on Friday and Saturday with wins on day one value one level and triumphs on day two value two factors.
Victories on Sunday are value three factors with a doubles match adopted by as many singles matches as wanted to resolve a champion. The primary staff to 13 complete factors takes the trophy.