Team World, led by John McEnroe, won its second consecutive Laver Cup on Sunday at Rogers Arena, defeating Team Europe 13-2. Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev were defeated 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7) by Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. Team World seized a 10-2 lead in the tournament on Saturday, putting itself in control. Sunday’s first doubles match featured several long rallies, with Shelton hitting a behind-the-back shot in the second game.
Both sets went to tiebreakers, with Team Europe hoping to win their second match of the three-day competition. However, Hurkacz missed a drop shot, allowing Team World to claim the victory. The Polish player threw his racket onto the ground, apparently upset at the squandered opportunity.
This year’s competition had a considerably different atmosphere than last year’s when Roger Federer’s incredible career ended in a Laver Cup that saw a stunning fightback from Team World on the last day as they defeated Team Europe in a thriller. There was no such drama this year, as John McEnroe’s Team World led from the first ball on Friday and won the opening match with ample of time to spare on Sunday.
It was an anti-climax for the large crowd in Vancouver, with the Canadian audience likely feeling cheated because there was no drama. The presence of Federer in Vancouver added some star quality to the event, but the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas from Team Europe meant they were fielding a second-string side.
Players like Zverev and Rune have chosen to compete in ATP Tour events in China rather than the Laver Cup, which could be a concern for the event as Berlin prepares for their year as hosts. Federer’s participation in the event’s organization may now be critical in guaranteeing that some of Europe’s greatest stars return for the Berlin event next September.
Zverev will be an important addition to Team Europe’s list in his home nation, and the possibility of Djokovic and Alcaraz playing on the same side (and potentially pairing up in doubles) would be box-office entertainment. The star quality required to ensure the Laver Cup is a big success was lacking this time, a year after Federer and Nadal played together in a team that also included Djokovic and Andy Murray. Let’s hope the organizers can make it right in 2024.
