The next two players confirmed for Team Europe's
Laver Cup charge are
Daniil Medvedev and
Alexander Zverev who will join Carlos Alcaraz in Berlin between September 20-22, 2024.
Shifting towards the Mercedes-Benz Arena in the capital of Germany, Zverev will make his Laver Cup return. But not without some criticism.
Back in 2021, Mary Carillo quit as a presenter at the Laver Cup after Zverev was accused when he played in the tournament in Geneva of hitting then girlfriend, Olga Sharypova. She said she attempted suicide after the incident. The same allegations which saw the ATP take no further action with an internal investigation.
But this was heavily pointed out on social media with Zverev's black cloud hanging around him due to his upcoming abuse trial in May with his ex-girlfriend and mother to his child, Brenda Patea seeing widespread criticism of the German.
Also in this case with the Laver Cup being an invitational tournament and one in which Zverev is picked for and not there on merit or due to ranking placing. Albeit the organisers likely used the fact that he was a home hope and by far the top German tennis star as a factor in which to pick him. With Laver Cup being a star studded tournament, they pick the top names in the sport.
Zverev also anchored the country to United Cup glory in January and so will likely receive a heroes welcome no matter what happens with his upcoming issues off the court. But it serves perhaps as a stark reminder of the perception of such a pick in this tournament.
