ATP: Roger Federer sees the Laver Cup as the engine for Davis Cup reforms

Roger Federer’s Davis Cup career is almost over. The Swiss prefers to take care of his sporty baby, the Laver Cup.

Roger Federer did not torch for long after his surprising defeat in the Indian Wells final and flew to Chicago on Monday morning. In less than half a year, the second edition of the Laver Cup will take place there, the event for whose premiere Federer fought like no other. And that despite the injury-related cancellations by Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic, for example, it was a resounding success. With the fans and the players.

It was great to form a team with those players who are usually my biggest competitors,” explained the 20-time major winner. The joint double appearance with Rafael Nadal, which attracted the attention of tennis fans worldwide, was particularly memorable.

“I play permanently against guys like Rafa, Marin Cilic, Sascha Zverev, Dominic Thiem or Tomas Berdych – if they suddenly stand by my side, cheer me on, give me advice, and I can do the same for them, that just meant a lot to me.”

Also starting in Chicago was John McEnroe, who will be captain of the world team as he was in the first edition. And the US legend immediately created facts, nominated Nick Kyrgios as his first player. So it was a good thing that the Australian, who like Federer will serve at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Miami, also came to Lake Michigan.

Participation in the Laver Cup is easy for both players, Kyrgios entered the Davis Cup in 2018, as he has done for Australia in recent years. Roger Federer is far from that at the current stage of his career: “It’s asking too much of the players,” said the 36-year-old Swiss in Chicago, “I played a lot of Davis Cup when I was younger, and I like it,” but at some point, at the latest after the triumph at Stan Wawrinka’s side in France in 2014, it became too much for him.

After all: New competitions such as the Laver Cup have finally brought movement to the ITF, changes have been made late, but still in the room. It is doubtful whether Roger Federer’s model of a tournament with 16 teams, proposed by ITF President David Haggerty, will motivate the Maestro to return to Severin Lüthi’s team.