By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Monday, August 19, 2024
Frances Tiafoe will embark on a major mission next month.
Help the World Team three-peat as Laver Cup champions.
Final focus: Photo Gallery of Cincinnati by Matthew Calvis
Cincinnati Open finalist Tiafoe and Chilean world no.22 Alejandro Tabilo are set to represent Team World at the seventh edition of the Laver Cup, which will be held at the Uber Arena in Berlin, from September 20-22, 2024.
Tiafoe and Tabilo complete the lineup for Team World. The pair joins the world number 10 Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton AND Tommy Paul IN Captain John McEnroe’s squad.
Since competing for Team World at the inaugural 2017 Laver Cup in Prague, Tiafoe has made his mark at the highest level in both the tournament and the Laver Cup. He reached the semi-finals of the 2022 US Open after defeating four-time champion Rafael Nadal, becoming the first American to do so since Andy Roddick in 2006.
Tiafoe made history when he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas to seal Team World’s first Laver Cup championship in London in 2022.
Prior to that win, Tiafoe and compatriot Jack Sock teamed up to defeat Nadal and Roger Federer in Federer’s final professional Laver Cup doubles match.
“I’m excited to be back at Team World and I’m looking forward to another great week with my teammates and Johnny Mac,” said Tiafoe. “The third victory in a row is the goal!”
This will be Tiafoe’s fifth Laver Cup appearance, a record he shares with Alexander Zverev.
“I’m excited to have Frances back on the team in Berlin,” Team World Captain John McEnroe said. “He has proven that he can face the best players in the world. His power and speed make him a threat in both singles and doubles, giving us plenty of options.
“He’s a great personality and brings a great atmosphere to the team, whether he’s on the pitch or on the bench.”
Laver Cup debutant Alejandro Tabilo won his first ATP Tour title in Auckland in January, dropping just one set in six matches to become the first Chilean to win a tour-level title on the hard court since Fernando Gonzalez in 2007.
Tabilo pulled off a major upset on clay at the ATP Masters in Rome, defeating the world no.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets in his run to the semi-finals, where he stretched eventual champion Alexander Zverev to three sets. In July he broke into the top 20 for the first time after winning the first field title in Mallorca.
“Tabilo has shown that he is capable of beating the best players in the game on all surfaces this year. He should inject some fresh energy into what is an experienced and successful core team,” McEnroe said.
“It is a great honor to represent Team World in Berlin and I thank Captain McEnroe for choosing me,” said Tabilo. “I will play whatever role I can, on and off the field, to contribute to a win.
Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg has assembled a formidable squad to bring the Laver Cup back into European hands, naming Casper Ruud AND Stefanos Tsitsipas to join the 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael NadalRoland Garros and Wimbledon 2024 champion Carlos AlcarazRoland Garros finalist Zverev and former world number 1 Daniel Medvedev.
Team Europe won the first four editions of the Laver Cup in Prague (2017), Chicago (2018), Geneva (2019) and Boston (2021). Team World is seeking its third straight title after winning in London (2022) and Vancouver (2023).
Tickets for this year’s Laver Cup in Berlin are on sale at the Laver Cup ticket shop operated by CTS EVENTIM. lavercup.com/tickets.
