Federer sets sights on tennis's new rivalry as plans for Laver Cup go up a notch
Tennis icon Roger Federer mentioned two players he would like to see represent Team Europe at the Laver Cup.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion attended the latest edition of the event which took place in the Canadian city of Vancouver. Team World, who won the event for the first time last year, retained the title in dominant fashion by hammering Team Europe 13-2.
Captain Bjorn Borg’s men won the first four editions of the tournament but now find themselves on the back foot and needing to respond. With the 2024 event heading back to Europe and the German city of Berlin, Federer mentioned Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic as two players he wants on Team Europe.
“I’d like to see Novak again. Actually, I’d love to see Alcaraz & Novak on the same team,” the eight-time Wimbledon winner said. “I’d love to see that happen.” Djokovic has made two previous appearances at the Laver Cup, in 2018 and also in 2022, the scene of Federer’s emotional retirement in London last year.
The Serbian has played five total matches at the event and won two of them, and was part of the Team Europe side that won in Chicago five years ago. Alcaraz on the other hand, has yet to compete at the Laver Cup.
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The reigning Wimbledon champion has been an electrifying player on tour over the last 18 months and will certainly give Team Europe a much-needed boost should he feature at the Laver Cup next year. Given the event will take place in Germany next year, Federer would also like to see a home favourite in the line-up.
“Sascha Zverev would be great for the German market,” he said. “We can speak German, very much looking forward to Berlin, a city I don’t know very well. I can’t wait to go there. I think it’s great to take tennis back to Germany. I think we’ll have much better energy as Team Europe.”
The tournament’s fans were thrilled with the opportunity to see Federer in the crowd at the Rogers Arena this past weekend. The Swiss Maestro marked the anniversary of his retirement with an on-court Q&A on Friday but he got more candid with his answers.
Djokovic and Alcaraz has played some spectacular matches in 2023 (Kyodo)After Team World lifted the trophy on Sunday night, the 41-year-old admitted that he missed the attention and the incredible crowd support he received throughout his career. “I miss the adrenaline but at the same time, you’re happy not to have it,” he said.
“Secretly I guess you like to be the centre of attention but at the same time it doesn’t matter any more, you know?" However, while there are elements of being a professional tennis player that he misses, Federer, is enjoying being retired.
“It is good with the way it is now. And of course, I miss the big ovations, seeing the happy faces of people that hopefully I was able to entertain and stuff like that," he added. "The tour was good to me, I loved it, every moment, but I’m happy retired now.”
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