Team World, which will compete at the Laver Cup in Chicago this fall, has grown impressively. Captain John McEnroe can now plan with Kevin Anderson, John Isner and Diego Schwartzman.
Besides the trio, Juan Martin del Potro and Nick Kyrgios were already seeded. McEnroe therefore only has one so-called Captain’s Pick left for another player. So far only Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are fixed entrants at Team World.
“I’m glad to have Kevin and John with me. They bring us additional firepower,” McEnroe said. “With Juan Martin and Nick, we probably have the largest and most powerful team in the world.”
This brings two players to Team World who played an epic match on the Wimbledon Center Court just a few weeks ago. In the semi-finals Anderson only won 26:24 in the fifth set and thus entered his first final at Church Road.
“It’ll be great to have him by my side now instead of playing him,” Anderson said. “This semi-final will not be forgotten so soon, but I hope I won’t have to find out again too soon.”
Besides the two service giants, Schwartzman, the only player to have lost a set to Rafael Nadal at the French Open, will strengthen Team World.
“Diego is an agile player who has impressed us with his consistency at the highest level over the last few months,” McEnroe pointed out, and delivered a first declaration of war: “Team World now looks really good. I have a feeling this is going to be our year.”
Team Europe won the first edition of the Laver Cup last year in Prague with 15:9. In the decisive match Roger Federer had to fend off a match point against Nick Kyrgios before he and Nadal and Co. were allowed to lift the trophy.
This time, however, Team World has a home advantage when it comes to revenge at the United Center in Chicago from September 21 to 23.