By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday September 24, 2023
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe clinched the Laver Cup for Team World on Sunday in Vancouver.
Photo Source: Getty/Laver Cup
They came, they saw, they dominated. Or, as captain John McEnroe put it after the last ball was struck in anger on Sunday at Laver Cup: “We kicked some ass, baby.”
Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe put the final nail in Team Europe’s coffin, notching a hard-fought 7-6(4), 7-6(5) victory over Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz to eliminate drama from the equation, and Team World repeated as Laver Cup champions in the sixth edition of the team competition co-founded by Roger Federer.
Entering Sunday trailing 10-2, Team Europe needed to win all four matches, starting with the doubles tilt, but they never got the comeback rolling as Tiafoe and Shelton put together a pitch perfect performance to end all hope for Bjorn Borg’s side.
Tiafoe and Shelton each went 3-0 over the weekend, and Team World also got key contributions from Taylor Fritz and Francisco Cerundolo as they won seven of eight matches to put Europe on the brink heading into Sunday.
“Team World played unbelievable tennis,” Team Europe Captain Bjorn Borg said. “Every single match they played really good. Of course we are all very disappointed, because we never expect to lose this score this much. What can you say? They played good tennis.”
On the flip side, Europe never found a level of intensity to match Team World. Casper Ruud’s victory over Tommy Paul on Saturday was the lone bright spot for a team that had no answers.
For Team Europe, the only consolation is that they’ll be able to head back to Berlin to play the Laver Cup on European soil in 2024.
“We're going to be eager,” the ninth-ranked Norwegian said, before referring back to Team Europe’s last victory at Laver Cup, a 14-1 whitewashing in Boston in 2021. “I mean, the only good thing for us this weekend was that we scored at least one more point than the World did when we crushed them. So two points is much better than one.”
Despite the loss, Team Europe and Team World both seemed to enjoy being part of a team event that rolled out the red carpet for its players and fans in Vancouver. Crowds were electric, the venue was perfect, and Roger Federer’s presence always leaves a special footprint at Laver Cup.
The 20-time Slam champion, one of the most widely adored figures the sport has ever known, was in attendance on all three days, and gave an on-court interview after Friday’s final match, addressing everything from his life after retirement to the difficulties of being parents to twin teens.
He was courtside for all matches, taking in the proceeding with fellow athletes Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, and members of the band Coldplay.
“It's been a really fun weekend being with all the boys, and I hope I can be back on the team next year for Berlin and that we can fight well,” Ruud said.
Without top players such as Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz in the mix, Team World learned the hard way that they won’t be able to win without putting their best talent to use.
Next year, in Berlin, expect the team to shine with a bit more starpower.
As for Team World, threepeat will be the buzzword.
“We struggled the first couple years,” McEnroe said, referring to Team World losing the first four editions of Laver Cup. “Now we have tasted winning and it feels good.”