By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, February 8, 2024
A house hero goals to convey blue increase to Berlin.
German No. 1 Alexander Zverev and former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev will be part of Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz on Staff Europe for the 2024 Laver Cup on the Mercedes-Benz Enviornment in Berlin September 20-Twenty second.
Extra: Richard Evans Q&A
Staff Europe captain Bjorn Borg named Medvedev an Zverev to the squad as we speak, becoming a member of Alcaraz who will probably be making his Laver Cup debut in Berlin.
“Staff Europe is tremendous motivated to win again the Cup in Berlin,” Borg stated. “With Daniil, Sascha and Carlos on my staff, I believe we have now a good chance of creating that occur.
“The fellows have had an unbelievable begin to the 12 months, and it is a actually sturdy first half of our lineup. I’m thrilled to have these champions within the fold for 2024.”
Zverev, who defeated Alcaraz in final month’s Australian Open quarterfinals, gained the Olympic gold medal for Germany on the Tokyo Olympic Video games. Medvedev roared again from a two-set deficit to topple Zverev within the Australian Open semifinals en path to his third AO remaining.
This will probably be Zverev’s fifth Laver Cup look.
The German-born Zverev has performed on 4 Staff Europe championship squads and goals to assist the blues reclaim the Cup in Berlin.
“I’m so enthusiastic about returning to Laver Cup,” stated Zverev. “The environment is all the time electrical and for the Laver Cup to be at residence in Germany, for me particularly, goes to be a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.
“Staff World has gained the final two Laver Cups so we’re extremely motivated to convey the Cup again to Europe and hopefully, with the help of the native followers, we will do it on residence soil.”
Corridor of Famer John McEnroe has led Staff World to 2 successive Laver Cup championships in London in 2022 and final September when World dominated in Vancouver.
“They wish to win this one badly,” McEnroe instructed the Laver Cup web site. “However guess what? So can we. That is going to be one of many largest showdowns in tennis this 12 months.”
Every staff consists of six gamers, who should all compete in a single singles match in the course of the first two days, and not more than two in the course of the three-day competitors. A minimum of 4 of the six gamers should play doubles. Every match win is price one level on Friday, two factors on Saturday, and three factors on Sunday, with the primary staff to succeed in 13 factors profitable the Laver Cup.
Zverev stated he is pumped for first ball and to recapture the Cup earlier than residence followers.
“Usually we play towards one another all 12 months lengthy, so having us come collectively on the identical staff, teaching, and serving to each other is basically uncommon,” Zverev stated. “For a change we’re all chasing the identical objective collectively, we’re making an attempt to win the Laver Cup and I believe that alone could be very particular.”
Picture credit score: Laver Cup
