John McEnroe: Team spirit key to Laver Cup treble | ATP Tour

Making Cup

McEnroe: Team spirit key to Laver Cup treble

The American legend will serve as captain for the last time in Berlin

September 19, 2024

What role can personality and emotions play in success on the court? Perhaps no one knows more about this than John McEnroe.

The American icon hopes that team spirit will be a firm foundation for Team World at the 2024 Laver Cup this weekend in Berlin. Despite a Team Europe that will feature five Top 10 figures in the PIF ATP Rankings, McEnroe believes Team World has what it takes to win a third consecutive crown in the team tournament.

“I feel like in every Laver Cup we’ve played, nine top 10 finishers have been European,” McEnroe said when asked about his team’s unity at his pre-tournament press conference. “I think team spirit has led us to victory, sticking together. That’s a key point.”

Either way, McEnroe has top-tier ATP Tour talent at Uber Arena. His team will be led by World No. 7 Taylor Fritz, who will be competing for the first time since reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open. Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerúndolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis complete the Team World lineup.

Fritz dismissed comments suggesting he was a ‘leader’ of the team in Berlin, instead saying that each member of the World Team will be prepared to take on their share of responsibility in their bid to retain the Laver Cup.

“In this competition, we each have to do our job to get the points,” the American said. “One person can’t win it. We all have a job to do. [Tras el US Open] “I had a couple of days off to relax, to rest after two very long weeks. I returned to training a couple of days later, I trained well here and I am ready to face the weekend.”

One man who will be looking to keep his Laver Cup pedigree intact is Shelton, who made his debut last year during Team Mundial’s impressive win in Vancouver. The American is no stranger to competing in team formats, having played for the University of Florida in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s a lot of fun for me,” Shelton said, when asked about his return to team play. “Pro tennis is a lot different than college tennis. You usually carry everything on your shoulders, so it’s nice to have teammates every now and then. On Team World we have a lot of reliable players, especially Taylor Fritz. That guy is rock solid. It’s crazy. It’s going to be special for me to be a part of.”

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity for two consecutive years. I love the team atmosphere, cheering on my teammates and having their support from the bench.”

South American talent will be provided in 2024 by the hits of the Chilean Tabilo and the Argentine Cerúndolo.

This will be the Laver Cup debut for Tabilo, who rose to a career-high No. 19 in the PIF ATP Rankings in July after a superb first half of 2024. The South American was outside the Top 100 last November but will be part of McEnroe’s final World Team as captain.

“It’s something incredible. To have a legend of the sport [como McEnroe] “giving us advice,” Tabilo said. “Obviously, I’m going to try to take that to the rest of the team. It’s something that’s going to help me this week and hopefully it’ll help me for the rest of the year.”