Tony Godsick was one of the makers behind the Laver Cup.He does not want to see the future success of the event dependent on Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.
Over the years there have been several constants in Roger Federer’s box: wife Mirka, for example, and the Swiss rider’s parents on higher occasions, Severin Lüthi is always with him, and Tony Godsick as a rule.In the current campaign, an accessory had also made its way into Federer’s ranks: the cap with the lettering of the Laver Cup.Godsick, the Maestro’s longstanding manager and business partner, also advertised the event in Prague with verve – and was nonetheless surprised by the resounding success of the first edition.
“We knew that we would create something very special, but we really didn’t have any idea that the event would be like this already in year one,”Godsick told the portal sport360,”The fans in Prague were great.The players enjoyed it.And the matches were really close, even if that’s not reflected in the final result.”
The way the points were awarded in Prague (on Friday one for each victory and then three on Sunday) would have contributed to the fact that it was still exciting on the third day.
Tony Godsick works alongside Roger Federer, of course, in an environment that is unparalleled in world sport.The Swiss is the figurehead of his discipline and enjoys worldwide admiration.But Godsick also knows that tennis is not the only thing that’s wrong with tennis.
“I don’t think that the fact that four players have dominated tennis for ten years doesn’t necessarily contribute to the success of our sport,”says Godsick,”Because there are certainly organisers who are asked by their sponsors:’ Hey, do you have Federer, Djokovic, Nadal or Murray? and if you don’t have them, the sponsors wonder why they should give away their money?”, says Godsick.
Tony Godsick does not want to overstate the importance of Federer and Nadal for the success of the Laver Cup, which will be held in Chicago next year,”Federer and Nadal are not needed forever.But we hope to have them forever.”