ROGER FEDERER JOINED BY RAFA NADAL FOR THE 2019 LAVER CUP FESTIVITIES IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Written by: Staff on 13th December 2018

ROGER FEDERER JOINED BY RAFA NADAL FOR THE 2019 LAVER CUP FESTIVITIES IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

epa07163655 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns to Austria's Dominic Thiem during an ATP Tour Finals tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 13 November 2018. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN |

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns to Austria’s Dominic Thiem during an ATP Tour Finals tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 13 November 2018. EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

By Ricky Dimon

Roger Federer had already been confirmed, of course, for the third annual Laver Cup next summer. After all, it is taking place in none other than Geneva, Switzerland. But the event got another huge boost on Thursday, when it was announced that Team Europe will also have Rafael Nadal at its disposal.

Nadal is playing for the second time after helping lead the Europeans to a 2017 triumph in Prague. He missed this year’s event in Chicago, which Team Europe also won.

“I’m looking forward to playing the Laver Cup in Geneva next year and am very excited to be named in the team by our captain Bjorn Borg,” the second-ranked Spaniard said. “I will do my best to live up to the great performances we had in Prague last year. The Laver Cup is a different event, it brings together players who are adversaries for all of the year, and it’s a wonderful experience to come together as a team, to work together, to help each other, and to get to know other players in a new way.”

Federer has participated in both Laver Cup installments. The 37-year-old Swiss was joined by Novak Djokovic and eventual Nitto ATP Finals champion Alexander Zverev on the 2018 European team in Chicago.

“We’ve all been blown away by the success of the Laver Cup, which in just two years has become so special to all the players who’ve been involved from both teams,” Federer commented. “I’m excited captain Bjorn has named both me and Rafa for Team Europe. We had a blast in Prague (in 2017) and it will be very special for me to team up with him again in Switzerland to try and defend our title.”

“It doesn’t get much better for a captain than naming both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the Laver Cup in Geneva,” Borg added. “Bringing together two of the greatest players, and rivals, the sport has ever seen together on one team is very exciting for our sport and will give us the best possible chance to win the Laver Cup three years in a row.

“When we first played Laver Cup in Prague, with both Roger and Rafa on the team, we knew it would be very special, bringing together two such great champions. But I think we all underestimated how powerful it would be to see them sitting side by side, coaching each other and cheering each other on, along with their team-mates from the player bench. We saw again the same special moments in Chicago, and how much this event means to the players. I can’t wait to see how the Laver Cup unfolds in Geneva as Team Europe regroups to defend our title.”