Roger Federer ready for 'bittersweet' Laver Cup, John McEnroe fears Carlos Alcaraz - 'Hope he plays horribly'
Published 18/09/2024 at 14:28 GMT+1
Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe have been Laver Cup captains since the tournament started in 2017, but this year will be their final time in charge of Team Europe and Team World before Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi take over from next year. Roger Federer was behind the birth of the event and says it will be "bittersweet" to lose Borg and McEnroe. Team World are going for their third win in a row.
'The most important week' - Departing captains Borg and McEnroe preview 2024 Laver Cup
Video credit: TNT Sports
Roger Federer says he wishes Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe could stay on as Laver Cup captains “forever” as the iconic pair gear up for their final tournament in charge.
Borg will lead Team Europe in Berlin, while McEnroe is hoping to guide Team World to the trophy for the third time in a row.
The pair have been on the sidelines of the event ever since the inaugural Laver Cup took place in 2017, but next year they will be replaced by Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi.
It was Federer’s concept to create the team tennis tournament, which is named after Rod Laver - widely considered as one of the greatest players of all time.
Ahead of the action getting underway, Federer said he wants his ever-present captains to get the send-off they deserve in the German capital.
“For me, this week is very much around Bjorn and John. Then the trio, of course, was Rod Laver, the three legends coming together for one last week,” Federer said.
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Bjorn Borg has been a captain since the Laver Cup started in 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
“In the future, I hope that Bjorn and John will return and pass on the torch, you know, in a way also to Yannick [Noah] and Andre [Agassi] and that they will always be friends and guests forever as inaugural captains of the event.
“It's very much a bittersweet week with Bjorn and John because I would love them to be captains forever.
“But at the same time, we've got to move with the times, and it was supposed to be three years or four, or two, and it ended up being seven, and it's been seven great years.
“I couldn't have had better captains to be honest."
mcEnroe fears 'breath of fresh air' alcaraz
Borg and McEnroe are both hoping for a winning end to their time as Laver Cup captains, but McEnroe has admitted his team will need to be at their best to match up to the powerful line-up of Team Europe.
“We have some guys that are hot. Taylor [Fritz], first time he got to a US Open final, that’s huge for an American," McEnroe said.
“Ben Shelton is going to be a superstar I believe, but they are also playing superstars already."
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Alcaraz ‘going to do whatever it takes’ to help Team Europe reclaim Laver Cup on debut
Video credit: TNT Sports
There is one player in particular from Team Europe who McEnroe equally fears and respects ahead of Team World’s title defence.
“Carlos Alcaraz, I love Carlos, I have to admit. I hope he plays horribly this weekend, but generally he’s the biggest breath of fresh air we’ve had in the sport in 10 years.
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“[Alexander] Zverev playing in his home country and [Daniil] Medvedev wanting to do his thing. Right from the top that’s a pretty strong first three guys,” McEnroe said.
Watch and stream the 2024 Laver Cup live on Eurosport and discovery+
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