Fans react
with criticism to Laver Cup’s new alternate additions. The tournament created
by Roger Federer announced that Jan-Lennard Struff and Flavio Cobolli will join
Team Europe in Berlin as alternates, in case any of the team members suffer an
injury.
It hasn’t
been easy for the Laver Cup to finalize its participants, with the withdrawals
of Rafael Nadal (No. 9 – protected ranking), Alex De Minaur (No. 11), and Tommy
Paul (No. 13), creating a seemingly less competitive draw, at least in terms of
player rankings. The replacements chosen were Grigor Dimitrov (No. 10) for Team
Europe, Francisco Cerundolo (No. 31), and Thanasi Kokkinakis (No. 78).
Laver Cup’s new alternates stir fan discontent online
Recently,
the tournament announced the addition of two more players for Team Europe, who
will serve as alternates and will only play a match if a team member withdraws.
Bjorn Borg selected Flavio Cobolli (No. 32) and Jan-Lennard Struff (No. 37).
Read also
Including
the alternates, a total of 14 players were called for the tournament, but only
7 of them are ranked in the top 15. In fact, only 10 players are currently in
the top 30, in addition to the absence for the second consecutive year of the
Big 3, who were part of the first four editions of the tournament, until Roger
Federer’s retirement in 2022.
The
announcement of the Laver Cup adding Cobolli and Struff sparked criticism from
fans on social media, with many expressing that the tournament has lost
significance and is becoming less attractive due to the players participating.
‘I'm a Roger fan, but cancel this tournament, the tennis schedule is incredibly tough, everyone complains about the schedule, but they keep playing this tournament or some exhibitions, I don't understand some players at all,’ one fan commented. See below for more reactions.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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