The Laver Cup: Since 2017, the tennis elite have been fighting for this trophy in the continental competition founded by Roger Federer.
Those: Imago
First things first: Taylor Swift is not coming to Berlin this weekend to rock the Uber Arena. Rafael Nadal will also not be there when twelve of the best tennis players in the world put on a big spectacle for the prestigious Laver Cup starting today. Read everything you need to know about the tennis event here:
What is the Laver Cup?
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer launched the continental competition in 2017 and organizes it every year with his management company Team8, two weeks after the US Open.
Federer thought of it as a tribute to the great tennis legends such as Rod Laver, after whom the cup is named, and the team captains Björn Borg and John McEnroe. The event is intended to bring together the best players of the present and future stars. Team Europe plays against the rest of the world – similar to the Ryder Cup in golf.
In fine clothes instead of tennis shorts: Alexander Zverev (l) at the Laver Cup presentation at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Source: dpa
So far, the Laver Cup has taken place in Prague (2017), Chicago (2018), Geneva (2019), Boston (2021), London (2022) and Vancouver (2023). After Berlin, the next venue will be San Francisco in 2025.
Which players are there?
With Nadal’s injury-related cancellation, many fans’ hopes of the next emotional end to their career after Federer in London in 2022 have been dashed. Jannik Sinner is also missing. Alexander Zverev is the star performer in Berlin and is taking part for the fifth time – Team Europe has always won with him.
Teams im Laver Cup
Team Europa: Alexander Zverev (Germany, world ranking 2), Carlos Alcaraz (Spain/3), Daniil Medvedev (Russia/5), Casper Ruud (Norway/9), Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria/10), Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece/12). Captain: Björn Borg (Sweden)
Team Welt: Taylor Fritz (USA/7), Frances Tiafoe (USA/15), Ben Shelton (USA/17), Alejandro Tabilo (Chile/22), Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina/31), Thanasi Kokkinakis (Australia/77). Captain: John McEnroe
The two teams consist of six players each. Three players each qualify for their team based on the world rankings after Wimbledon. The other three players can choose the captains.
Why is Novak Djokovic missing?
The 24-time Grand Slam winner would have qualified for the Laver Cup, but has cancelled his participation. The Serb was only there in 2018 and 2022. Djokovic is fighting for a fairer distribution of prize money with his self-founded players’ union.
Although the Laver Cup is part of the ATP Tour, it has an exclusive character and only benefits a few players who are lured with a lot of money. Djokovic is therefore critical of the event and mostly avoids it.
With the gold medal in the tennis tournament of the Olympic Games, Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic reaches the next peak of his career. He wins against Alcaraz 7:6 and 7:6.05.08.2024 | 1:14 min
How much prize money do the players get?
Each player on the winning team will receive a prize of 225,000 euros, but the most lucrative part of the tournament is the entry fee. This is kept secret, but for top stars like Djokovic it is likely to be in the seven-figure range.
The fee varies depending on the popularity of a player, but on average the professionals in Berlin should be able to earn half a million euros for three match days. There are no world ranking points, however.
What is the game mode?
A team needs 13 points to win. Three singles and one doubles match are played daily in best-of-three format. No player can play more than two singles matches during the tournament, and at least four players from a team must play in doubles.
For victories, you get one point on Friday, two points on Saturday and three points on Sunday. If no decision is made after the doubles on Sunday, the singles match continues.
The fixtures:
Friday, 20 September: From 1 p.m. two singles, from 7 p.m. one single, one doubles
Saturday, 21 September: From 1 p.m. two singles, from 7 p.m. one single, one doubles
Sunday, 22 September: Doubles starting at 12 noon, followed by further singles
How popular is the Laver Cup?
The format has been very well received by fans and sponsors so far, and the stadiums have been well filled at every event – despite the horrendous ticket prices. In Berlin, too, the cheapest tickets started at over 60 euros and went up to 700 euros. Even for the training day on Thursday with an autograph session, tickets cost between 35 and 40 euros.
During the tournament, there will be a freely accessible fan zone with activities outside the Uber Arena, but no other show program in the arena. The players will provide the entertainment and manage the balancing act between humorous exhibition matches and high-class tennis. Without Taylor Swift.
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Source: Reuters
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