John McEnroe: Spirit key for Team World three-peat at Laver Cup | ATP Tour

Laver Cup

McEnroe: Spirit key for Group World three-peat at Laver Cup

American legend will captain for closing time this weekend in Berlin

September 19, 2024

What position can character and emotion play in forging success on the tennis court docket? Maybe nobody is healthier positioned to touch upon the subject than John McEnroe.

The American tennis icon is banking on staff spirit to put the inspiration for Group World’s 2024 Laver Cup marketing campaign this weekend in Berlin. Up towards a Group Europe lineup that includes 5 of the Prime 10 within the PIF ATP Rankings, McEnroe nonetheless believes his Group World has what it takes to seal its third consecutive crown on the groups occasion.

“I imagine that each Laver Cup we have now performed, 9 of the Prime 10 have been Europeans,” stated McEnroe, when requested about his staff’s off-court cohesion throughout a pre-event press convention. “So I believe that staff spirit that is one thing that has helped carry us ultimately to victory and saved us actually shut in others. It is a superb level.”

Not that McEnroe doesn’t have some prime ATP Tour expertise to ship out on court docket at Uber Area. His roster is led by World No. 7 Taylor Fritz, who can be competing for the primary time since reaching his maiden Grand Slam closing on the US Open earlier this month. Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis full the Group World lineup.

Fritz shied away from ideas that he was going to be one thing of a ‘chief’ inside his staff in Berlin, however as a substitute stated every member of Group World is able to take particular person duty of their bid to retain the Laver Cup.

“On this competitors, it is simply as much as every of us to do our half to get the factors,” stated the American. “One individual cannot win it. Everyone’s acquired a job to do. [After the US Open] I had a few days off to chill out, to only take pleasure in a while off after a protracted two weeks. Then I began to get again into it a pair days earlier than and I’ve had some good practices right here, getting myself able to go for this weekend.”

𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐯𝐬 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 ✨@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/bLc6xxIOhf

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 18, 2024

One man who’s aiming to take care of his excellent Laver Cup document is Shelton, who made his debut in Group World’s complete victory in Vancouver a yr in the past. The 21-year-old is used to working in a staff format, having performed school tennis on the College of Florida in 2021 and 2022.

“It is numerous enjoyable for me,” stated Shelton, when requested about returning to a staff format. “Professional tennis is loads completely different from school tennis. Normally every part is by yourself shoulders, so it is good to have the ability to depend on your teammates generally. Group World, we have numerous guys which can be dependable, particularly Taylor Fritz. That man is strong as a rock. Loopy. I believe it is a particular occasion for me to be part of.

“I am simply grateful that two years straight I acquired to come back out right here and compete, as a result of I like the staff environment and I like cheering on my guys and competing after I’ve acquired guys cheering for me on the sidelines.”

Some South American aptitude can be injected into the 2024 model of Group World by Chilean Tabilo and Argentine Cerundolo.

It is going to be a Laver Cup debut for Tabilo, who rose to a career-high No. 19 within the PIF ATP Rankings in July after a sequence of high-quality showings throughout the primary half of 2024. The 27-year-old was outdoors the Prime 100 as lately as final November, however will now line up for Group World in ATP legend McEnroe’s closing outing as captain.

“It is fairly surreal. I imply, when a legend within the sport like [McEnroe] is giving us ideas and every part, it is good,” stated Tabilo. “Clearly I’m going to attempt to use that for the remainder of my profession. Simply undoubtedly going to assist this week and hopefully for the entire yr.”