By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, September 26, 2021
The owner of 77 singles and 78 doubles titles, John McEnroe understands the dynamics of team play.
Former world No. 1 McEnroe says in order for Laver Cup to attain the status of golf's Ryder Cup the ATP must go all-in on the team competition.
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In the aftermath of Team Europe's 14-1 thrashing of the Team World squad captained by McEnroe, the Hall of Famer said "it's a mistake by the ATP" to schedule 250-level tournaments the same week as Laver Cup.
Soonwoo Kwon won the Nur-Sultan title and Hubert Hurkacz won the Metz championship today. McEnroe said the ATP should clear its calendar the week of Laver Cup putting the sole spotlight on the team competition.
"I don't think there should be any tournaments going on if they want to try to get to the level of a Ryder Cup, say," McEnroe told the media today. "It's got to stand on its own. It's not going to be like, well, other players need to be able to play and support, you know, get their points at the 250 in Kazakhstan or wherever they are right now. I just don't agree with that.
"I think it's a mistake by the ATP. So we'll see what happens."
McEnroe, who fell to 0-4 in Laver Cup competition against archrival and good buddy Bjorn Borg, who captained Team Europe to its fourth consecutive championship, said Laver Cup deserves more respect from the game's governing bodies.
"You've got the clout of Rod Laver who is our Babe Ruth." McEnroe said. "You've got Roger Federer who is an absolute legend in our game, obviously. I don't need to tell you that.
"Yet it's difficult to sort of get sort of the respect that I think this deserves. It tears me up."
Photo credit: Laver Cup