The 2024 edition of the Laver Cup ended with Team Europe winning against Team World at the Uber Arena in Berlin. Carlos Alcarazs victory over Taylor Fritz in the final match of Day 3 was decisive, after the team led by John McEnroe had taken a step closer to victory and surprised their opponents.
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Frances Tiafoe was one set and one break ahead of Alexander Zverev, but the German champion played his best tennis just a stones throw away from defeat and allowed Team Europe to return to hope. Carlitos has done the rest, showing that he is back to 100% after the difficulties of last month.
The Laver Cup has proven to be a format that works, fans love it and players are excited to spend one week a year as teammates. The presence of Roger Federer - who founded this event together with his manager Tony Godsick in 2017 - contributes to making the atmosphere even more exciting. The event will return to the US next year, as it will be played at the Chase Center in San Francisco. In one of the many interviews released in recent days, the Swiss legend said he would like to bring the Laver Cup to Asia or South America in the near future.
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Benneteau slams Laver Cup
Although it has been a great success in recent years and the partnership with ATP has been extended until 2029, not everyone loves the Laver Cup. Among them is certainly Julien Benneteau, who expressed his sincere point of view on the event in a long interview with RMC.
The players wouldnt be there if it wasnt for all that money the former French ace explained. There is no emotion. When you win even an ATP 250, there is a sporting value. The Laver Cup has no sporting value because the selection is made at the will of Federer and Godsick, there are no sporting criteria. The Ryder Cup (golf competition on the same principle, editors note), there are six players qualified thanks to their results and six others chosen by their captain. But these are sporting choices, not according to who you are represented on the ATP tour, by which agency you are managed. If the best players are still there? But never! Tabilo in the world selection, is it the best? There is no sporting criterion. Tiafoe and Fritz are not going to play the Davis Cup in China because there is no money but they will play the Laver Cup because they take a huge check. Players only participate because the check is huge he added.
Team Europe won
Federer and his team have invested a lot in this event and there is no doubt that the denarius has had a big impact on the presence of the ATP top players. The former World No.1 also reflected on the future of the Laver Cup: "At the beginning, when we started seven years ago, there was a lot of uncertainty. Would everything go as planned? Would people come? Would they like the product? Would the players come? Being myself a player and an organizer at the same time, trying to reach a concept, was quite a journey. It's as if a brotherhood came together, paid tribute to the previous generation, included the new generation, and then merged it in the style of the Ryder Cup, creating a concept that would work throughout a weekend. He continued: "We have to go to Asia, South America, not just stay in North America. Although this is an individual sport, we all like team competitions."
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Team Europe has returned to win this amazing competition after the last two editions were won by Team World. Alcaraz had a huge role last weekend. He played his best tennis against Shelton and Fritz. Im really happy, I think all of us are all really happy about reaching our goal at the Laver Cup. I think all of us did pretty good work over the days Carlitos said.
The first set, I was there supporting, watching it live. Its really difficult to watch the matches from outside. Theres a lot of nerves, killing us. Then I tried to stay aware a little bit. I was watching from TV inside the locker room, trying to give my support from there. I came here to watch the last game of the second set and then I had to warm up. But the nerves were there. I didnt know if I was going to play or not until the last moment but Im really happy that Sascha won at the end and gave me a chance to play once again he concluded.
