The 1996 Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek does not believe in the future of the Laver Cup without Roger Federer.
Richard Krajicek only had the best experiences with Roger Federer in 2018: As tournament director of the ATP Tour 500 event in Rotterdam, Krajicek was happy about the Swiss’s late commitment – and congratulated Federer not only on his title but also on his return to the top of the ATP charts on Sunday.
The popularity of the 20-time major winner remains unbroken, and the hall in Rotterdam was also full at Federer’s appearances. As in the United Center in Chicago at the second edition of the Laver Cup, in which Roger Federer plays a decisive role.
And it is precisely this close interlocking that makes Richard Krajicek not particularly optimistic about the future of the competition, which will be held for the first time in 2017.
“The Laver Cup is a show match and does not appear on the calendar of the ITF or the ATP,” the 1996 Wimbledon winner told Telesport TV. “It’s funny for the audience, but the question is what happens when Roger Federer, one of the founders, stops.”
Krajicek seems to be more promising with the new ATP Cup. “On the other hand, there is a lot of enthusiasm for team tennis events – and time will tell which tournaments will survive.” The ATP Cup is the perfect preparation for the players for the Australian Open.