The long-awaited first installment of the annual Laver Cup is here, ready to thrill fans at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic from Friday through Sunday. Whereas golf’s Ryder Cup pits Europe against the United States, tennis’ version is the Europeans against the rest of the world.
During the three days of competition, there will be a day and night session on both Friday and Saturday prior to a four-match, single-afternoon schedule on Sunday. Four matches–three singles and one doubles–are played each day. Both singles and doubles will be best-of-three sets with ad scoring. In the event of a split, the third set will be decided by a 10-point match tiebreaker.
Each player on the six-man teams will play at least one singles match during the first two days, and no player will play singles more than twice during the three days. At least four of the six players on each team must play doubles and no doubles combination can be played more than once. Each match win will be worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday. The winning team must reach 13 points out of an available 24. In the event of a 12-12 tie after all 12 matches (24 points) are played, a final overtime doubles match–a Decider–will be played as a regular set with ad scoring and a tiebreaker. For the Decider, a doubles combination that has already been used can be used again.
Team Europe features Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, and Tomas Berdych. The world is really Team North America plus Nick Kyrgios. Joining the Australian are John Isner, Sam Querrey, Frances Tiafoe, Jack Sock, and Denis Shapovalov.
[polldaddy poll=9835470]
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who ya got?
Europe’s squad is too strong so i want them to lose but i won’t bet on it.
1) N. Kyrgios & J. Sock can win their doubles match against R. Nadal & T. Berdych.
If they play their singles this way-
2) N. Kyrgios will defeat R. Nadal in a singles match.
3) J. Isner will defeat M. Cilic.
4) S. Querrey will defeat T. Berdych even though they are playing it in Czech Republic.
5) Denis SHAPORISTA will defeat D. Thiem.
6) Tiafoe Francis will lose to Roger Federer.
If North America plus Nick Kyrgios are smart this is how they will play it.
I initially said i won’t bet on it but if they play it this way, europe will lose.
R. Federer or maybe T. Berdych are the only potential winners for Europe.
Who gets to choose who plays who?
#Europewilllose
No Fedal doubles line up:
In a surprising twist, world No.1 Rafael Nadal will partner local hero Tomas Berdych against Australian Nick Kyrgios and Wimbledon doubles champion Jack Sock in what promises to be a blockbuster finish to the first day’s action.
https://lavercup.com/news/2017/09/21/laver-cup-lineup-revealed-day-one
Schedule of play
https://lavercup.com/schedule
https://lavercup.com/news/2017/09/21/laver-cup-lineup-revealed-day-one
By Laver Cup on September 21, 2017
Former US Open champion Marin Cilic will open for Team Europe against Team World’s Frances Tiafoe when the inaugural Laver Cup gets underway at the O2 Arena in Prague on Friday, September 22.
In a first-ever reveal of players for a teams event on the world tennis stage, captains Bjorn Borg (Europe) and John McEnroe (World) declared their player lineups for day one.
The second singles match will pit world No. 7 Dominic Thiem for Europe against American John Isner.
The night session, starting at 7pm, will feature an intriguing battle against rising stars Alexander Zverev (Europe) and Canadian Denis Shapovalov (World).
In a surprising twist, world No.1 Rafael Nadal will partner local hero Tomas Berdych against Australian Nick Kyrgios and Wimbledon doubles champion Jack Sock in what promises to be a blockbuster finish to the first day’s action.
The captains submitted their lineup on the newly installed black center court at the O2 in a special ceremony witnessed by the referee and flanked by team members. They had no knowledge of which players the opposing side had selected before the reveal.
“I’m ready to get some revenge on this guy,” Shapovalov said of his match against Zverev. “He’s an incredible player so it’s going to be tough, but I’m excited for it.”
Nadal called for crowd support in his doubles match against Sock and Kyrgios, partnering Berdych for the first time.
“We hope to play well – it’ll be the first time that we’ve played together. And here we are, in the hometown of Tomas, so it’s going to be exciting,” the 2017 US Open champion said.
World No.2 Roger Federer will be on the bench for the first day, supporting his Team Europe teammates.
“Friday looks really amazing,” he said. “I can’t wait to start on Saturday as well, but tomorrow I’ll be the big supporter.”
Under the unique format for the three-day competition, the schedule for Saturday and Sunday will be determined each morning when one captain will submit his card blind for the opposing captain to review before selecting his players.
Each match on Friday is worth one point, two points per match are up for grabs on Saturday, and three points for each match on the crucial deciding Sunday
The first team to reach 13 points will win the inaugural Laver Cup, with a thrilling doubles decider played if the scores are tied at 12-all.
i don’t understand why some players don’t want to play the davis cup and we find these players at this exhibition …. money money money
Yes! Money, money, money.
There might be other reasons like rest or injury, coaches decision etc etc.
DC plays too many ties which is arduous for the players who have to fit it into a gruelling calendar. This is just once a year.
Money, certainly. But this is a far easier format than Davis Cup. 2 sets plus a possible 10 point tb. Davis Cup matches are scheduled for the week after a slam. The top players who go deep in slams, want (need) to rest that week. Nothing is happening this week. Top players don’t even bother with the 250’s.
Anyway, all the top guys have done the hard yards in DC. Rafa’s won 4 for Spain, but he really can’t do it on a regular basis any more. Novak does play DC at times and has won a cup or two for Serbia. Andy has done his DC heroics. Federer finally did get a cup for Switzerland, and was always committed to keeping them in the world group. Cilic is still playing DC when healthy. So does DelPo. Berdych did yeoman’s work for the Czechs for years on what was basically a 2 man team, playing 2 singles and the doubles in virtually every tie.
Marin Cilic is they better player but he is not in-form so Tiafoe Francis has a real chance.
Tiafoe’s match against R. Federer was hot and in a way Roger was lucky cos…
John Isner will defeat D. Thiem.
If the A. Zverev of US OPEN shows up SHAPORISTA will win but if my Zverev shows up, A. Zverev will win in 2 sets.
I hope R. Nadal meets N. Kyrgios, oh happy day, oh happy day, someone(Nadal) will lose, lol!
Just kidding or am i?