“I think we did have a good team spirit for years. but it wasn't getting us a whole lot": McEnroe about Laver Cup Past
ATP
Team World captain and former world number one John McEnroe believes
that things would’ve been different if Team Europe had had the services of
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
The 20-year-old is one of the most highly-rated young
players currently playing in the circuit.
The current world number two became the talk of the town
after beating the current world number one Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the final
of Wimbledon 2023 in a five-set thriller with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1,
3–6, 6–4.
McEnroe, who was the captain of Team World in the Laver Cup
2023, was quoted in a recent report where he admitted that not having someone like
Alcaraz in the opposition team was an advantage.
“Obviously in a competition it's about winning,” he said. “I
think we did have a good team spirit for years. It wasn't getting us a whole
lot. We were close a couple times, but it's frustrating. You know, it's a
little bit of that David versus Goliath.
“We came here and we sort of looked at what happened, a
couple guys pulled out and we're, like, Wait a minute, not only could we but we
should in our minds do it and come out.
“We've got to take advantage of this, and so I think these
guys are getting it, because I think in a couple of years, I mean, obviously
next year it's going to be a different story. We'll be back in Europe. A couple
of guys, you know, Carlos Alcaraz, if he plays, it will be obviously a
different story right off the bat. So we've got to take advantage of this
opportunity and get some momentum.”
Team World, who lost
four editions of the Laver Cup, ended up winning the competition for the second
time in a row with a thumping score of 13-2.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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