John McEnroe: Key to World Team spirit three-peat at Laver Cup | ATP Tour

The Laver Cup

McEnroe: Key to Team World’s three-peat at the Laver Cup

The American veteran will captain for the last time this weekend in Berlin

September 19, 2024

What role can personality and emotions play in success on the tennis court? Perhaps no one is better placed to comment on the topic than John McEnroe.

The American tennis player is counting on team spirit to lay the foundation for Team World’s 2024 Laver Cup campaign this weekend in Berlin. Facing a Team Europe squad with five of the top 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, McEnroe however believes his World Team has what it takes to seal its third straight crown at the team event.

“I believe that every Laver Cup we played, nine of the Top 10 were from Europe,” said McEnroe, when asked about his team meeting outside the court during a press conference before the event. “So I think that team spirit is something that helped us to carry us in the end and keep us very close to others. A very good point.”

Not that McEnroe doesn’t have top ATP Tour talent to send to the court at Uber Arena. His line-up is headed by world number 7 Taylor Fritz, who will be competing for the first time since reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open earlier this month. Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis complete Team World.

Fritz shied away from suggestions that he would be the “leader” of his team in Berlin, but instead said that each member of the World Team is ready to commit to their quest to retain the Laver Cup.

“In this tournament, it is up to each of us to do our part to get points,” said the American player. “One person will not win it. Everyone has a job to do. [After the US Open] I had a few days off to relax, just to enjoy some time off after a long two weeks. Then I started to get back into it a few days ago and have a good routine here, getting ready to go this weekend. ”

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One man aiming to keep his Laver Cup record is Shelton, who debuted in the World Team’s all-time victory in Vancouver last year. The 21-year-old is familiar with the team approach, having played college tennis at the University of Florida in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s a lot of fun for me,” said Shelton, when asked about getting back into the team. “Pro tennis is very different from college tennis. Usually everything is on your shoulders, so it’s good to be able to rely on your teammates sometimes. World Team, we have a lot of reliable guys, especially Taylor Fritz. That boy is hard as a rock. You are crazy. I think it’s a special event for me to be a part of.

“I am very grateful that for two years in a row I have come out here to compete, because I love the spirit of the team and I love to make my boys happy and compete when I have boys cheering me on.”

Other South American players to be included in the 2024 version of Team World are Chilean Tabilo and Argentine Cerundolo.

It will be the first Laver Cup match for Tabilo, who rose to No. 19 in his career in the PIF ATP Rankings in July after a series of high-quality matches in the first half of 2024. The 27-year-old was out. Top 100 as recently as last November, but will now join the World Team in ATP legend McEnroe’s final outing as captain.

“It’s quite surreal. I mean, where a sports legend like [McEnroe] he gives us tips and everything, it’s good,” said Tabilo. “Obviously, I will try to use that in my whole career. I will definitely help this week and hopefully throughout the year.”