Captains’ farewell: Laver Cup honors Borg and McEnroe

Team Europe and Team World’s legendary captains retire from competition after seven years

The legendary figures of former competitors and current friends Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe were a major draw for spectators at the 2017 inaugural Laver Cup team tournament.

Sharing his experience in Berlin, McEnroe said, “It’s pretty hard to top that for me personally” to be able to watch his brother serving as his right-hand man while also seeing Bjorn Borg, his greatest opponent and wonderful friend.

Over the last seven tournaments, the two tennis greats have shared innumerable thrills, culminating in Sunday’s most spectacular comeback victory for Team Europe and Borg’s fifth title. It has been an incredible opportunity for the guys participating in the Laver Cup to meet two of their heroes.

“Somewhat surreal.”

Both the European and the World teams’ players use the term “legend” when describing their leaders. The chance to learn from the greatest has been seized by European Laver Cup rookie Flavio Cobolli and World Laver Cup rookie Alejandro Tabilo.

“To have even a small amount of interaction with Borg is very meaningful to me,” Cabolli said with a grin. “You know, I want to express my gratitude for everything because I was born with him and John playing only on YouTube.”

Yes, it’s fantastic to have a legend like McEnroe giving us suggestions and everything,” Tabilo said. It goes without saying that I want to make use of it, ideally throughout the whole of the year. throughout my professional life.

Some of the other players have played in the Laver Cup more often and are therefore somewhat used to that level of contact. However, the butterflies in the stomach felt when first meeting the legendary are vividly recalled by everybody.

“I was a little anxious to play for Bjorn and meet him the first time I was on the team because I didn’t know him very well,” Casper Ruud said.

Being Norwegian and him being Swedish, we have a tight bond; he is a genuinely kind person, and we have had a great time together. For me, the most significant part of my first Cup was playing in the opening match of the tie when the whole squad, including him, was there to cheer me on.

“An extraordinary item”

Being in McEnroe’s presence has been a life-changing event for Taylor Fritz.

It’s been incredible to have him on the bench and in the game. “He’s simply a legend,” he said.

Being in his company and having him lead us is an honor. All I’ve done is try to absorb all the information and what he stated.

Taylor Fritz says he’s enjoyed soaking up McEnroe’s expertise at the Laver Cup.

Another factor that stays with the most successful Laver Cup player, Alexander Zverev, is the assistance provided by the bench.

“Borg is quite legendary. On the whole, he thought it had been a tremendous blessing to have him as a bench warmer for the last seven years, he said.

“Although our generation only knows him from films and YouTube videos, hearing his stories about the tennis life of yesteryear is an incredible experience.”

What will be most missed is the unique quality of that connection.

Stefanos Tsitsipas expressed his difficulty in saying goodbye to it.

“With every farewell, there’s likely to be a new beginning with different people and different goals, but, you know, I’m going to miss them very much.”

With an eye on the future

The Laver Cup has a promising future, even if Borg and McEnroe’s reign is coming to an end. Two new captains, Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi, will lead Team World and Team Europe to unprecedented heights. Chair Tony Godsick believes the Laver Cup will continue to play an important part in tennis’s future.

Participants in this event are essentially seated on the bench with the Borgs and McEnroes. Rod Laver is also present. Boris Becker, Michael Stich, and Steffi Graf were all present this year. A opportunity to see them, if ever, is out of the question for these athletes, he said.

I believe it’s crucial for the history, the aesthetics, and the substance that the Laver Cup will give a meeting place for these sorts of players every year. Viewers are interested in these exchanges. Consequently, we’re hoping that the Tennis Channel will get a taste of it.

Captains’ farewell: Laver Cup honors Borg and McEnroe