How Roger Federer’s ATP rivals treated the Laver Cup’s first edition which ‘surprised’ him
Roger Federer reflects on the inaugural Laver Cup, noting his surprise at the level of commitment and camaraderie shown by his ATP rivals. The event, modeled after golf's Ryder Cup, successfully fostered a team atmosphere among individual tennis stars.
Why it matters
The Laver Cup has become a significant fixture in the tennis calendar, demonstrating how team-based formats can revitalize interest in individual sports.
In 2017, Roger Federer's brainchild, the Laver Cup, came to life in Prague.
Essentially tennis' version of the Ryder Cup golf tournament, the Laver Cup pits six stars from both Europe and the rest of the world against each other in singles and doubles matches across three days. The event is named after and pays tribute to Australian legend Rod Laver, the only man to complete the Calendar Grand Slam twice.
Federer , who co-created the Laver Cup with his agent Tony Godsick, wasn't sure how the event was going to be received by his fans and teammates.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for Laver Cup
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