By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 27, 2017
The Laver Cup’s dusk-colored court can be a dawning for a new era of generational growth, said Roger Federer.
Federer fended off match point outdueling Nick Kyrgios in the final match to seal Europe’s 15-9 victory over the World Team in the inaugural Laver Cup before a spirited crowd at the O2 Arena in Prague.
The 19-time Grand Slam champion envisions the event showcasing rising young stars—Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Jack Sock, Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe all played—on a larger stage while strengthening the bond to the game’s past legends.
The challenge is choosing players who bring real passion to the event, Federer said.
“I mean, there is pressure having to prove that it's successful,” Federer said afterward. “The only way it was ever going to be successful is if the players cared. And they did. I think you see it. I think you see the happiness. The Laver Cup trophy is still sprayed with champagne, so that means we have already been celebrating.
“It's been a wonderful journey. I just hope to, you know, to leave a legacy behind, not for me personally but just for the game, because it deserves it. It deserves the players, and the legends of this game deserve the recognition they deserve. The future players deserve a massive platform to play tennis in.”
World No. 4 Zverev was undefeated for Team Europe and exuded the calm, confidence of a future major champion. Playing with passion for the World Team, Kyrgios partnered Sock for an opening-day doubles win, defeated Tomas Berdych on day two and nearly knocked Federer off in a pulsating decider that was a rematch of their Miami thriller.
“And the likes of our team, the young guys, Dominic and Sasha, and on the World Team all the young guys there, they will hopefully play for years and decades to come this competition,” Federer said. “For me, as an older guy, and Rafa and other guys on the team, it was a pleasure taking part in the very first one.”
The 2018 Laver Cup will bring the Raging Bull to the home of the Chicago Bulls, hosting the first Laver Cup staged on North American soil at the 20,000-plus-seat United Center. The 2019 Laver Cup will return to Europe before the competition takes a year off for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Nadal believes commitment is the key to long-term success for Laver Cup.
“Hopefully this event is keep going and hopefully the new generations, the young ones, gonna commit as we did it this weekend,” Nadal said. “The only way that the competition have success is if the players really want to play and really care for it. We did it. We put all the energy that we have to win this trophy.”
Chicago, former professional home of one of Federer’s childhood sports heroes, fellow Nike endorser Michael Jordan, has a strong tennis tradition and has hosted both ATP and senior circuit events in the past. Chicago is also home to Wilson, Federer’s racquet sponsor.
“I think Chicago is an unbelievable venue,” Federer said. “I have been a great fan, of course, of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls, way back when. So to go there, it's going to be incredibly exciting playing in front of 20,000, 23,000 people. It's going to be amazing feeling.
“Going into details right now, I can't tell you much, you know. I mean, in a perfect world, I guess, I'd like to see the home team get all the support. So from next time on, I hope it's this way.”
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill Getty Images for Laver Cup