The Laver Cup

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The inaugural Laver Cup, pitting Team Europe against Team World, was a huge success and the best idea to reinvigorate tennis in a long time. This was the tennis version of Golf’s Ryder Cup, and it was fast-paced, exciting and highly-competitive.

I’m no fan of tennis exhibitions, because it is not real competition as the players are paid to put on a show. If I enjoyed reality sports, I would watch the WWE.

The Laver Cup was a competitive tennis showcase, as the best players in the world rooted their hearts out for teammates not out of nationalism as if it were the Davis Cup, but as a genuine show of respect for their teammates.

The two best players of all time, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, played doubles together for the first time and it was a special moment, a la Michael and Magic teaming together on the 1992 Men’s Olympic Basketball Dream Team in Barcelona.

The Laver Cup clearly demonstrates that team tennis can and does work when a great format pits the best against the best.

Centercourt
USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition