Some of the best players in the world–both past and present–have arrived in Berlin, Germany in advance of Friday’s start to the 2024 Laver Cup.
Among the past champions on the scene is Roger Federer, one of the founding members of this team competition. Federer retired at the Laver Cup in 2022, when he teamed up for a final doubles match with Rafael Nadal at the O2 Arena in London. The Swiss is in attendance as a spectator this time around.
“You almost miss it when it’s already over because it’s only three days, high intensity, and you see obviously the world’s greatest players playing against each other,” Federer said during a Wednesday press conference. “I think seeing them interact with each other on the bench is something that you don’t get a chance very often to see, especially from different countries. I think such high-stacked teams is rare to find. I think the experience overall should be really wonderful.
“I always say you have to come to experience the Laver Cup to really get an idea what it’s about.”
This year’s installment will be about a stacked Team Europe trying to take back the trophy. The Europeans won each of the first four Laver Cups but have since lost two in a row. Their 2024 roster features Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Team World is countering with Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerundolo, and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Bjorn Borg (Europe) and John McEnroe (World) have been captains since the inaugural Laver Cup in 2017 and are serving in those roles for the final time. Yannick Noah will succeed Borg, while Andre Agassi is taking over for McEnroe.
“For me it’s very much a bittersweet week with Bjorn and John, because I would love them to be captains forever,” Federer commented. “At the same time, we got to move with the times, I guess. It was supposed to be three years, four or two, and it ended up being seven. It’s been seven great years. Couldn’t have had better captains, to be honest.”
who ya got?