Are you ready for the Laver Cup?March 18, 2016
Hours after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open, Roger Federer thought of a team competition similar to the Ryder Cup. It would be named in honour of Rod Laver, the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam. The best tennis players in Europe would compete against the best of the rest of the world. But there are too many tournaments in the ATP World Tour.
For Federer, the Laver Cup will be one way of showing his admiration to one of his idols. If it will push through, then the first edition of the tournament will be held next year. It will be scheduled after the US Open and before the Asian swing. Let's look at the pros:
Fans will see Djokovic and Federer on the same side of the net. Federer insists that there's no bad blood between him and Djokovic, and the Laver Cup will dispel any doubts. But don't expect them to play together in the doubles.
Djokovic can play along Andy Murray. Don't be surprised if Djokovic compare himself and Andy Murray to Federer and Rafael Nadal. Fans might disagree with him, as their head-to-head matches won't suggest a rivalry.
The Laver Cup will be another display of camaraderie. Fans haven't forgotten Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and how their rivalry defined the sport during the 1990s. It got personal, which became media fodder. It was a different story with Federer and Nadal. (The finals of the 2009 Australian Open sent a clear message to fans.) And the Swiss proved that he don't have any ill feeling towards the Spaniard who supplanted him as the top-ranked player in the ATP rankings.
Here are the cons:
Injury will prevent the best players to commit to the event. The final quarter of the year is not an ideal time for players. They are too tired after a grueling summer, so expect some to pass it up. This will prompt some fans to wonder about the semifinals of the Davis Cup, which is held during this time of the year. No one can answer it at the moment.
Players want to see a revamp of the Davis Cup. Not that most players prefer to concentrate on their singles career, but they find the Davis Cup a burden. (Ask Federer.) Unless a bigger prize money is guaranteed, then expect the Laver Cup to remain on paper.
It might be a one-sided affair. The Wightman Cup, a team competition between the female players of the United States and Great Britain, was held annually. It became a one-sided affair after the retirement of Virginia Wade. The event was discontinued after the Americans were too good for the Britons. If the Laver Cup were to be played now, then Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, and Nick Kyrgios would likely represent the best of the rest of the world. Fans could see a lopsided score. And it would be advantage Europe.
Related posts
Popular articles
The Indigenous Science Experience, and How to Commemorate It ( Aug 21st 2014)
In 1611, Johannes Kepler came up with the laws of planetary motion. But he had nothing to verify his theory. He was in the midst ... Read more >
Are You from Hobart? Check This Out ( Aug 20th 2014)
Hobart, the state capital of Tasmania, was once a penal colony. But those days were long gone. This southern metropolis ... Read more >
She Came, She Saw, She Conquered ( Aug 19th 2014)
Jeannie Gunn was not only a fine lady, but also a great author. Jeannie Taylor was born on June 5, 1870 in Carlton, Melbourne, ... Read more >
The Australian Desert (and Nothing Else) ( Aug 15th 2014)
Contrary to what most people think, Australia's deserts aren't totally devoid of vegetation. There are large areas where ... Read more >
Australia's Geography (As You May Not Know It) ( Aug 15th 2014)
"Geography is the key, the crucial accident of birth. A piece of protein could be a snail, a sea lion, or a systems analyst, ... Read more >
-
FreeOutline$5
-
FreeUlimited Amendments*$30
-
FreeTitle page$5
-
FreeBibliography$15
-
FreeFormatting$10
-
Preparing orders247
-
Completed orders128
-
Active writers188
-
Proofreaders18
-
Discount programs available for customers6
-
Chat operators are online8
-
Phone operators are online23
-
Satisfied customers96.6%