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

Laver Cup

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

American legend will captain for closing time this weekend in Berlin

September 19, 2024

What function can persona and emotion play in forging success on the tennis courtroom? Maybe nobody is best positioned to touch upon the subject than John McEnroe.

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

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

Not that McEnroe doesn’t have some prime ATP Tour expertise to ship out on courtroom at Uber Enviornment. His roster is led by World No. 7 Taylor Fritz, who will likely 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 Staff World lineup.

Fritz shied away from solutions that he was going to be one thing of a ‘chief’ inside his workforce in Berlin, however as a substitute mentioned every member of Staff World is able to take particular person accountability 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,” mentioned the American. “One particular person cannot win it. All people’s acquired a job to do. [After the US Open] I had a few days off to chill out, to simply get pleasure from a while off after an extended 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 file is Shelton, who made his debut in Staff World’s complete victory in Vancouver a 12 months in the past. The 21-year-old is used to working in a workforce format, having performed school tennis on the College of Florida in 2021 and 2022.

“It is lots of enjoyable for me,” mentioned Shelton, when requested about returning to a workforce format. “Professional tennis is loads totally different from school tennis. Often every thing is by yourself shoulders, so it is good to have the ability to depend on your teammates generally. Staff World, we have lots of guys which might be dependable, particularly Taylor Fritz. That man is strong as a rock. Loopy. I feel 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 workforce ambiance and I like cheering on my guys and competing after I’ve acquired guys cheering for me on the sidelines.”

Some South American aptitude will likely be injected into the 2024 model of Staff World by Chilean Tabilo and Argentine Cerundolo.

It will likely be a Laver Cup debut for Tabilo, who rose to a career-high No. 19 within the PIF ATP Rankings in July after a collection of high-quality showings throughout the primary half of 2024. The 27-year-old was exterior the High 100 as lately as final November, however will now line up for Staff 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 thing, it is good,” mentioned 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 12 months.”