Bjorn Borg: 'Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem create Team Europe foundation'

The US Open champion Dominic Thiem will finish the season inside the top-3 for the first time in a career after a great run. The 27-year-old Austrian reached the Australian Open final at the beginning of the season, beating Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev before squandering two sets to one lead against Novak Djokovic. Dominic corrected that at the US Open once the season restarted, prevailing over Alexander Zverev from two sets to love down in a thrilling final to become a Major champion. After more than five hours of an epic battle, Diego Schwartzman ousted Thiem in the Roland Garros quarter-final, preventing the Austrian from chasing another Major title. Skipping the Paris Masters, Dominic finished the season at the ATP Finals, beating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in tight encounters to reach the final for the second straight year. Thiem claimed the opening set against Daniil Medvedev before the Russian found a way to turn the tables and prevail 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, leaving Dominic with the runner-up prize.

The new one should start in Australia in January or February if everything goes right, and Thiem should be among the candidates for the ATP throne with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev. While we can't say much about the upcoming calendar and players' schedule, Thiem will compete alongside Roger Federer at the Laver Cup in Boston, becoming the second player confirmed for the notable team event. The fourth edition of the Laver Cup should have gathered the world's leading players in Boston this September, with Team Europe seeking the fourth title under the guidance of the founder Roger Federer.

Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem will lead Team Europe at the Laver Cup in Boston.

Due to a coronavirus, it had to shift to 2021, with the organizers scheduling the tournament at TD Garden between September 24-26. Thiem will compete at the Laver Cup for the first time outside Europe, defending the Blue team colors in 2017 and 2019. In Prague, Thiem prevailed over John Isner in a thriller, returning two years later in Geneva and overpowering Denis Shapovalov before losing to Taylor Fritz in another tight battle. Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem are the first confirmed players for the fourth edition of the Laver Cup, with more leading tennis stars ready to join in the upcoming months. Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg said that Roger Federer and Dominic Thiem build a strong foundation of their team, hoping to add more good players in the upcoming months.

"Dominic has had an incredible season, despite the unprecedented circumstances. He consistently performs at the top level, and it was great to see him winning his first Major earlier in the year in New York. With him and Roger confirmed, I feel we've got a great foundation, but for sure we'll need to be in top form as each year Team World get tougher and tougher, and my great friend and rival John McEnroe will be hungrier than ever to win in front of a home crowd," Bjorn Borg said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3fADV7C