Tennis
The Laver Cup begins in Vancouver. What games will kick off its sixth edition?
The three-day tennis event kicks off in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, pitting Team Europe against the rest of the world. Although the Laver Cup this year does not have as big a line-up as in previous years, there are some stars on the roster.
The three-day tennis event kicks off in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, pitting Team Europe against the rest of the world. Although the Laver Cup this year does not have as big a line-up as in previous years, there are some stars on the roster. What matches are on the schedule for the opening day?
Captain John McEnroe’s world number one team enters the sixth edition as the defending champions for the first time. Last year in London, where the founder of the event, Roger Federer, bid farewell to a successful career, the European team lost 8:13.
This time the battle for the cup, named after the legendary Australian Rod Laver, has moved to Canada. The unique court with its dark-coloured surface is located in Rogers Arena, home of the NHL club Vancouver Canucks and the venue of the 2010 Olympic hockey tournament.
Shortly before the start of the tennis show, which debuted six years ago in Prague, the line-up of Team Europe, led by Björn Borg, changed. Holger Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas were replaced by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Arthur Fils.
Both debutants will take the court on Friday, where a win in the match means a point. By the way, the format remains the same – Saturday’s victory is two points, Sunday’s three points and the first team to reach a total of thirteen points will become the champion.
So what matches can we look forward to? So far, only the line-up of duels for Friday’s action is known. Starting at 10 pm CET, we will see a clash of talented youngsters. The aforementioned 19-year-old Fils will challenge the one year older Ben Shelton. The Frenchman is ranked 44th in the ATP rankings, the US player 19th.
Davidovich Fokina will then face Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who is ranked 21st in the world. Like the four-ranked Spaniard, he is taking part in the prestigious event for the first time.
The second block of the opening day will take place from 4am. The experienced Gaël Monfils of France will take on the home star, world No. 14 Félix Auger-Aliassime, in his first appearance at the Laver Cup. Monfils, whose career has been affected by a series of injuries, is ranked 142 in the singles rankings.
Friday’s programme will then conclude with doubles. Russia’s Andrey Rublyov, the highest-ranked singles player this year thanks to his sixth-place finish, and Arthur Fils are the nominees for Europe. The Americans Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul will represent the world in the opening doubles.
Other players will also enter the fray this weekend. Norway’s Casper Ruud and Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz are also part of the European six. Another tennis player from the USA, world number eight Taylor Fritz, is expected to be the mainstay of the world team.
Source: Laver Cup, ATP
