"We know Team Europe is coming in loaded" - Patrick McEnroe believes Team World are the underdogs at the 2024 Laver Cup
ATP
Although Team World has won the last two editions of the Laver Cup, Vice Captain Patrick McEnroe is of the opinion that his team is not expected to leave Berlin with the title when the event kicks off this weekend.
Having won the 2022 event in a close competition, Team World dominated at last year's tournament, securing an easy 13-2 win over their European counterparts. However, Team Europe will be bringing the big guns at this year's edition, with a squad including former World No.1's Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, in addition to two-time Grand Slam runner-up Alexander Zverev.
McEnroe hoping to three-peat at final edition as vice captain
The American, who captain's Team World alongside brother John McEnroe, will be performing his duties as vice-captain for the final time. Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah have been selected to take over the captaincy positions for Team World and Team Europe, with current Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg also stepping down at the conclusion of this year's event.
Although McEnroe would like to go out as a winner, Team Europe's stacked team will likely offer some stern resistance. With Team World viewed as the underdogs, the American still believes his squad which includes compatriots Ben Shelton Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Argentine Francisco Cerundolo and Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, can pull off the upset victory.
“I think we go in as the underdog this year," said McEnroe in an interview with the media on Monday. "“We’re excited for a great event. We know Team Europe is coming in loaded, I’m sure they’ll have the home crowd behind them, but we’re very excited.
"We’re extremely excited that we get to have our final one here, we plan on going out with a three-peat having won the last two years. There’s a little bit of sadness about this final one for us, because it’s been such an amazing run.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride for us and a privilege for us to be part of this incredible event … to be part of it with Bjorn [Borg] and Thomas Enqvist has been a great experience."
"We’re extremely excited that we get to have our final one here, we plan on going out with a three-peat having won the last two years. There’s a little bit of sadness about this final one for us, because it’s been such an amazing run.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride for us and a privilege for us to be part of this incredible event … to be part of it with Bjorn [Borg] and Thomas Enqvist has been a great experience."
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
- Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.mandoist06-11-2026
- Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.mandoist05-11-2026
- Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.mandoist05-11-2026
- Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
