“That's the million-dollar question, in a way, knowing when to say something that you hope will make a positive difference”: John McEnroe's approach as Laver Cup captain

Saturday, 23 September 2023 at 22:00

John McEnroe reflected on his role as the Laver Cup captain and how he interacts with the Team World players.

The first day of the Laver Cup couldn't have been better for Team World and their captain, John McEnroe. They won all four matches of the day, taking a 4-0 lead over Team Europe and starting their title defense from 2022 in the best way possible.

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The chosen players for the singles matches were Ben Shelton, Francisco Cerúndolo, and Felix Auger-Aliassime, while in the doubles, the American duo of Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul took the court. McEnroe praised his team and explained that there were aspects in which he didn't want to get involved:

"Well, almost every guy here has a coach with him or is speaking to a coach. So you try to understand what makes a guy tick and talk to the people around him, as well, like Fran, for example, get feedback from coach and people and what they are thinking. That's important. I'm not going to walk in, couple days, and say, This is what you're going to do," John McEnroe said.

"You hopefully have the right feel for knowing when to say something, when it's needed. I have been around the game a long time, but just look at the second set. It was a pretty unpredictable set. Both guys were battling really hard. So I think that's the question, really. That's the million-dollar question, in a way, knowing when to say something that you hope will make a positive difference. That's what I try to do," he added.}

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The 7-times Grand Slam champion also highlighted having newcomers on his team, such as Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, and the Argentine Cerundolo, all of them participating in their first Laver Cup:

"We never had a lead, so needless to say, this is a good feeling. So having been able to come back and having had some close encounters, obviously know that the first day is the first day, but we've got some young blood, some new blood, and a good mix with what we have and some people that were there last year. I think it's just a great team energy. It feels awesome so far," John McEnroe said.

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Ben Shelton to John McEnroe at Laver Cup: “Dialed in. That’s what we call that. We’re dialed in Johnny Mac! Come on!” 📞

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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.

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