Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to team up at 2019 Laver Cup
The best players of the new millennium and the winners of 37 Grand Slam titles Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will have a chance to play alongside each other once again, with Rafa joining Team Europe at 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva between September 20-22! The third edition of the super exciting exhibition event will take place in nine months time and the organizers have already signed the biggest name besides Roger Federer who is one of the founders of the competition that was held in Prague in 2017 and in Chicago this September, with Team Europe beating Team World on both occasions.
Roger was there to play the previous two editions and just like in Prague he will have a chance to play together with Rafa again after they scored a 6-4 1-6 10-5 win over Jack Sock and Sam Querrey in the most anticipated match of the entire tournament. This year, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic were the top stars who stood Roger's ground and the 20-time Grand Slam champion played doubles matches with both of them, helping Europe to overpower the strong Team World and defend the crown. Now, Rafa will be there to defend the colors of the blue team two years after he scored that doubles win with Roger and the singles one against Jack Sock in the dramatic match tie break.
On the last day, John Isner toppled the Spaniard 7-5 7-6 and they will probably have a chance to play against each other again if John signs to play Laver Cup for the third year running. Roger and Rafa never played an official doubles match together but they will have the opportunity to join forces in front of the packed crowd at the Palexpo convention center in Geneva.
“It doesn’t get much better for a captain than naming both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the Laver Cup in Geneva. Bringing together two of the greatest players, and rivals, the sport has ever seen together on one team is very exciting for our sport – and will give us the best possible chance to win the Laver Cup three years in a row. When we first played Laver Cup in Prague, with both Roger and Rafa on the team, we knew it would be very special, bringing together two such great champions. But I think we all underestimated how powerful it would be to see them sitting side by side, coaching each other and cheering each other on, along with their teammates from the player bench. We saw again the same special moments in Chicago, and how much this event means to the players. I can’t wait to see how the Laver Cup unfolds in Geneva as Team Europe regroups to defend our title,” Borg said.
“We’ve all been blown away by the success of the Laver Cup, which in just two years has become so special to all the players who’ve been involved from both teams. I’m excited captain Bjorn has named both me and Rafa for Team Europe. We had a blast in Prague and it will be very special for me to team up with him again in Switzerland to try and defend our title. John McEnroe has made it very clear how motivated Team World is to win and we’ll need to compete hard to stay undefeated. I know from lots of first-hand experience how tough it is to compete against Rafa and it’s a huge boost to our team to have him on Team Europe,” added Federer.
“I’m looking forward to playing the Laver Cup in Geneva next year and am very excited to be named in the team by our captain Bjorn Borg. I will do my best to live up to the great performances we had in Prague last year. The Laver Cup is a different event, it brings together players who are adversaries for all of the year, and it’s a wonderful experience to come together as a team, to work together, to help each other, and to get to know other players in a new way,” said Nadal.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2UFVZSZ
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