The Laver Cup: One for the Ages
For context, this tournament pits the very best of European tennis players against their ‘Rest of the World’ counterparts in a series of double and singles matches across three days. These fixtures are fought in a best of three sets. Where the sets have been tied, the third set is a ten-point match tiebreaker. Each victory is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday, with the first team to reach 13 points out of a possible 24 emerging victorious. In the unlikely event of the points being tied at 12:12 at the end of all matches, a fifth match (Decider) on Sunday is played to determine the winner.
Day One: Practice Session
Somehow someway I was able to attend the practice session for both Team World & Team Europe on the 22nd September. I witnessed Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray share the court together for the final time in what was my first viewing of a live tennis match. To see the camaraderie, the longevity of these players and the love they share for the sport was inspirational. There was the technical element of it too where I was able to catch a glimpse of their quality albeit whilst they were warming up at 50%. I also saw the reality of often-mentioned statements such as how Nadal strikes the ball much harder during practice than in real matches. There isn’t anything like watching these people in the flesh- the camera cannot truly capture the fizz of a Federer slice or a forehand down the line from Nadal.
Day Two Match One: Jack Sock vs Casper Ruud
Pardon me as I provide commentary from the point where Ruud is leading 6-4 4-3 30-0. With the match seemingly over at this juncture, Sock hangs on to his serve with four well constructed points. That could prove decisive as a break for Ruud would have surely put the fixture to bed.
How the tables turn- Sock now serving for the set at 6-5. The first point goes to the American with a serve and volley clinically put away, as does the second- this time an inside out forehand doing the job. A double fault invited Ruud back into the game, but brute force (first point won with a forehand smash) followed by deft touch (game-clinching forehand drop shot) secured the set. The tiebreak (aka Laver Breaker) was now required to settle the match. Sock continues his ascendancy by drawing out errors from Ruud, thus winning the first three points of the tiebreak. As sport all too often demonstrates, it is a battle of momentum swings, and this was shown again whereby Sock proceeded to lose the next six points. After this the players exchanged points until it was match point Ruud at 9-7, which he clinched with a forehand winner. It was a great game to watch, a much closer tie than I had anticipated. We then paused for a brief interval to refresh ourselves in the Rocket Club.
Day Two Match Two: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Diego Schwartzman
The next fixture saw Stefanos Tsitsipas face Diego Schwartzman in what I expected to be a closely fought contest. Although it didn’t materialise as such, both players demonstrated their unique skillset, with Schwartzman’s compact backhand and darkish movements particularly evident. Tsitsipas’ weighty forehand was penetrative, probing, and piercing. His footwork was feather-like, his languid motion graceful yet effective. Overall this was a clinical performance by the Greek whose consistency wore down the Argentinian.
Day Two Match Four: Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer vs Frances Tiafoe & Jack Sock
I found myself too engrossed in this match to write as I watched the match. Retrospectively it was a game packed with emotion and tension, heaped with joy yet sadness. There were trademark backhands from Roger alongside the pinpoint serving we’ve become accustomed to. The American duo played a huge part in the match too with some bristling forehand winners from Tiafoe prominent in the final set. The night was capped off by a teary send off, commemorated by Ellie Goulding’s performance as Nadal and Federer sat weeping on their seats. Deep gratitude was expressed by Roger to his wife Mirka for allowing him such a lengthy career with her support and permission. They embraced as she came down from the stands to comfort him. His former coaches stood side by side as they paid their respects to his career. This was a poignant occasion, with laughter instantaneously replaced by sadness once Sock hit the winning forehand.
With the first day of tennis completed, this has already been a tournament to savor. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed these greats play in person. Hopefully there will be many more to come for Nadal, Djokovic, and the next generation of talent, but for now we say goodbye to the legend, Roger Federer.
As I write this Team World have won the Cup by a score of 13-8. Felix Auger-Aliassime proved pivotal to their victory, whilst Frances Tiafoe produced the clincher with a remarkable comeback against Tsitsipas. Their first ever win, this will be one to savour and we look forward to running this back in 2023.