Roger Federer is certainly one of the main secrets behind the success of the Laver Cup, which has garnered the approval of fans and professionals since its first edition in 2017. Fans had the opportunity to watch legendary doubles such as Federer and RafaNadal, King Roger and Novak Djokovic, as well as the last match of the Swiss Maestros career at the O2 Arena in London in 2022.
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The 20-time Grand Slam champion has worked hard to make this event a success, inaugurating a very profitable partnership with ATP that will continue until 2029. Before the start of the 2024 edition at the Uber Arena in Berlin, the former world number 1 expressed the desire to bring this event also in China and South America in the future by confirming its intentions of expansion.
Except for the last edition in Vancouver - which was not followed very much also because of the time zone - Federer and his team have almost always been able to invite top players to the Laver Cup and have a privileged place on the calendar. The intriguing format and commitment of the players did the rest, helping to make the Laver Cup the most prestigious exhibition of the year.
Laver Cup and ATP together until 2029
According to many insiders, the former Swiss champion is destined to become the captain of Team Europe in a few years. Federer is in Berlin this weekend and had the opportunity to talk with all the players. Former world number 1 has electrified fans by making some rallies and showing his iconic shots.
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Important victory yesterday for Stefanos Tsitsipas, who in the second match of Laver Cup wins with a score of 6-1 6-4 against Thanasi Kokkinakis and brings the first point to Team Europe (current result 2-2). During the press conference the Greek tennis player commented on his event and spoke of the importance of Federer for the Team Europe.
On the performance against the Australian, the Greek commented: "A great start to my debut this year in Berlin. I want to honor my captains and the team Im surrounded by. I know this is Bjorns last year as team captain, and the same goes for Thomas. My wish for this week is to try to maximize as much as possible my game. I know its easy to say, but Im going to have to work hard on every single set I play this week. My game today was good and Im happy with how things went during the whole match. I felt in control".
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The relationship with the captain. "I feel that aura makes a big difference. Sometimes it doesnt matter what they tell you or how they tell you. It is the intimacy that you feel when someone sits next to you and communicates things in a spiritual way. I feel that this is something I have enjoyed with Bjorn over the last few years, having played the Laver Cup, and its also why I keep coming back. I know I have a great team captain who supports my tennis. This is also something that gives me a lot of relief when I go out on the court," explained the Greek tennis player.
The importance of Federer
The importance of having Roger Federer close by: "Its a huge advantage we have. Roger is definitely on our team. He himself does not want to reveal it, but we all know that he is there whenever we need him for important moments, and this is a small advantage that we take with us. They may have Rod, but we have Roger".
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The value of the Laver Cup. "For me, the Laver Cup is that honorary tournament that allows you to play and makes you proud to have been selected to be part of the roster and team. It goes far beyond the simple points, because you are all year long on the hunt for points, and this is a week in which you dedicate yourself to playing your best tennis because of course its already an honor to be part of the team and want to maximize as much as possible. Actually I feel a greater excitement for competitions like the Laver Cup, probably compared to other tournaments during the year".
On the role of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for the future of tennis, Tsitsipas said: "As far as Carlos and Jannik are concerned, it was great for tennis to see them win a GrandSlam title. First of all, it was a learning experience for us to see what it takes to be in their position. These two players are among the strongest, most aggressive players on the tour right now. They also teach you that you really have to get it on and that you cant be too passive to win a Grand Slam title".
