Rafa Nadal will join Team Europe later this year for the seventh edition of the Laver Cup, which will be held at the Uber Arena in Berlin from September 20 to 22 between a selection of European players against a combination of tennis players from the rest of the world. The Laver Cup organization announced this Monday that Nadal will team up with his compatriot and world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz, world number 4 Daniil Medvedev and world number 5 Alexander Zverev, in Team Europe’s attempt to win back the cup. under the captaincy of the Swede Bjorn Borg. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, who has hinted that 2024 could be his last year on the circuit, returned to the courts after almost four months away at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, a tournament he has won 12 times and where he was eliminated in Second Round by the Australian Alex de Minaur. One from Minaur who will be, precisely, one of the members of the World Team captained by the American John McEnroe, and who will also include, for the moment, the American tennis players Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
The one in Berlin will be Rafa Nadal’s fourth appearance in the Laver Cup, after having competed in Prague in 2017, Geneva in 2019 and also in doubles with his enemy on the courts and friend off them Roger Federer, in London in 2022. “I am very happy to be playing the Laver Cup in Berlin for Team Europe. I have some really special memories from my experiences at the Laver Cup, including all the emotions of London two years ago playing alongside Roger for the last time,” Nadal acknowledged in statements to the organization. “At this stage of my career I really want to make the most of every opportunity I am given. Forming a team is always an incredible experience and I have always enjoyed it, the competition is different and exciting. I am looking forward to going to Berlin and helping Team Europe to recover the Laver Cup,” added the Manacorí.
Bjorn Borg, captain of the European team, was delighted to have Nadal as one of his chosen ones. “Rafa is an absolute legend of our sport, a true champion in every sense of the word,” highlighted the Swede. “It is my last year as captain. Having him in Team Europe this year was one of my goals and I am delighted that he accepted my invitation,” he added. On the other hand, World Team captain John McEnroe announced the first three players on his list at the beginning of the month: Australian Alex de Minaur and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. All three were part of the World Team’s historic first victory at the Laver Cup in London.
Fritz and Paul were also part of the victorious team last year in Vancouver. Named after Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, the Laver Cup is played on a spectacular black court that will be built inside the Uber Arena. The three-day team competition pits six of Europe’s best players against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world. The top three players on each team earn a guaranteed invitation based on their individual ATP ranking on the Monday following the Roland-Garros Grand Slam final. The remaining three may be chosen by the captains and appointed at any time before the start of the US Open.
2024-04-22 10:57:36
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