The Laver Cup may lack the star power of its previous iterations with no Grand Slam or world champions taking the court at Rogers Arena, but tournament co-founder Roger Federer is convinced there will be quality tennis on display in Vancouver.
Last year鈥檚 event featured Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal all representing Team Europe.
鈥淚t was always going to be hard, especially with my retirement,鈥� Federer said about having the other three players compete in this year鈥檚 tournament. 鈥淩afa being injured, Novak taking a break, I understood that, obviously, completely. Murray maybe not coming back again, it鈥檚 understandable. Look it is what it is, I still think it鈥檚 going to be a great weekend.鈥�
This year鈥檚 team has been hampered by withdrawals, with world No. 4 Holger Rune and world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipa withdrawing due to surgery or injury.
鈥淭he greatest players are still here,鈥� said Federer. 鈥淥bviously everybody was asked to play and we want all the best to play, but it wasn鈥檛 possible with schedules and all that stuff. I was a tough guy as well when it came to scheduling. I was very rigorous about which tournaments I could play.鈥�
Team World consists of Americans Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, along with Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, and has five players ranked in the top 20 in the world.
By comparison, Team Europe has three 鈥� Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev and Hubert Hurkacz.
鈥淚 still think the tennis is going to be exceptional. We鈥檙e still talking absolute top level. It鈥檚 an absolute pity that players had to pull out, but I think the ones coming in are exciting,鈥� said Federer.
The three-day event, which runs Friday to Sunday, is in its sixth year. Team World will be attempting to defend its title for the first time with Europe winning four of the five previous tournaments.
The tournament switches locations every year, with an aim of showcasing top tennis around the world.
But Federer admits that changing locales might come with drawbacks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously easier (to grow the tournament) if it was in Vancouver every single year. By jumping, it becomes a little more tricky and I guess the question begs itself, 鈥榦ne day is it easier to be three years in Vancouver and then three years in another place or destination?鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, because it would be easier to build up something more concrete over an amount of time, but I think the Laver Cup has done wonderful.鈥�
But, the former 20 Grand Slam titles-winner and world No. 1, said the event can have a lasting affect on young or aspiring tennis players.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a weight this event can carry,鈥� Federer said. 鈥淭hrough events like these, you create memories as well for children and parents.鈥�
Watching these matches can inspire children to pick up a tennis racket or become more involved in the sport, he added.
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