Roger
Federer ruled out becoming the captain of the Laver Cup, while the tournament
considers moving to Saudi Arabia. The 20-times Grand Slam champion created the
event in 2017, and after his retirement, it seemed a natural step to assume the
leadership role for Team Europe.
However,
Federer stated that it's not the right time yet, and he will wait for his turn.
Since the inception of the tournament, the captains have been
Bjorn Borg for
Europe and
John McEnroe for Team World, reigniting one of the greatest
rivalries in tennis history.
Federer's future aspirations for Laver Cup
In 2024,
the Laver Cup will return for its seventh edition, once again pitting Team
Europe against Team World. This marks the second edition without
Roger Federer
following the Swiss player's retirement in 2022.
Now in an
organizational role, the 42-year-old former tennis star is in no hurry to
change his position. However, he acknowledged that he envisions himself as a
team captain someday, expressing, "I see myself as a team captain one day,
but I would like to see someone in this position who belongs to the generation
after Rod Laver. Someone in the 50 to 65 age group. These guys deserve it
first, before it's my turn," Roger Federer added.
As the
leader of the Laver Cup, the tournament that changes its venue every edition,
having been held in Europe, the United States, and Canada, Federer's
co-creator, Tony Godsick, recently commented that moving the event to Saudi
Arabia is not out of the question: "One day the Laver Cup could be in
Saudi Arabia. We rotate between European cities and cities in the rest of the
world. I expect Saudi Arabia will be part of this discussion at some point in
the future."
Saudi
Arabia has demonstrated interest in hosting
ATP and WTA tournaments, offering
substantial prizes for participants. They have already secured the Next Gen ATP
Finals in a five-year deal starting from 2023. The WTA Finals will also
relocate to Riyadh for this year.
Just two
days ago, the "Six Kings Slam," an exhibition in Riyadh, was
confirmed, featuring Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik
Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Holger Rune, as part of Saudi Arabia's initiative
to bring top-tier tennis to the country. In this regard, Godsick is not
overly concerned about controversies in Saudi Arabia, stating, "Sport is a
language that everyone speaks. Sport can enable dialogue and change."
