It’s the end of an era, with John McEnroe handing the reins of captaincy to Andre Agassi from 2025 onwards. After successfully leading the team to two consecutive wins in the Laver Cup, it will be a transition filled with both nostalgia and anticipation for the future of Team World. This moment is not as tear-jerking as one might think, as the soon-to-be former captain has some high hopes for the retired tennis player, saying, “he has that special quality that people love.”

The 65-year-old former player and captain claims he saw a spark in a young Andre Agassi on the court. “Andre is going to do a great job,” he said, describing the 54-year-old as smart, charismatic and a legend of the game. “I played him when he was 16 or 17; he had that personality, and you just knew something big was going to happen.”

The two have faced off a total of three times in their tennis careers. With the elder McEnroe winning their first clash in 1986 before Agassi evened the score in 1992. After all that, it seems like McEnroe was left with quite an impression. He said, “He’s probably more analytic-driven than I am…players are going to love him as well. It’s going to be fun to watch from more of a distance the next couple of years.”

Andre Agassi, a tennis legend with eight Grand Slam titles and 60 career victories, retired from the sport in 2006 due to injuries. He continued to be involved in tennis, coaching Novak Djokovic from 2017 to 2018. In 2011, Agassi was honored with an induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Grigor Dimitrov, who worked with Agassi from 2018 to 2020, has credited him for his valuable insights and guidance both on and off the court. Andre Agassi’s coaching expertise could be the missing piece for Team World.

For the record, the Team Europe has dominated the Laver Cup, winning the first four editions. However, John McEnroe has led Team World to two consecutive victories, narrowing the gap to 4-2. As for this year, McEnroe is now determined to secure a third straight win and finish his tenure on a high note. “It would be great to go out on a high,” he said. “We play a very formidable team; we’re up against it each year,” continued the 65-year-old.

This year’s team is looking strong, and with McEnroe at the helm along with Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Alejandro Tabilo, Francisco Cerúndolo, Thanasi Kokkinakis. On the other side lies Team Europe, whose caption is set to walk on the same path as McEnroe.

Bjorn Borg to pass the torch to his good friend and great champion

As John McEnroe prepares for his final moments with Team World, he shares the spotlight with Bjorn Borg, who will hand over his role to Yannick Noah in 2025. Although he does seem rather optimistic about the transition, stating, “I can’t think of a better person to take over this role than my good friend Yannick. He is a great champion, leader, and person, and I’m sure he will enjoy being part of this great competition as much as I have.”

Laver Cup Chairman and TEAM8 CEO Tony Godsick agrees, adding, “Yannick is adored by fans around the world. His individual achievements, success as a team leader, and endearing personality make him the perfect choice to take over from Bjorn after Berlin. We are delighted he accepted our invitation and look forward to seeing him take his place on the Team Europe bench.”

As both teams look to make their mark on this iconic event, fans can anticipate an electrifying showdown. As McEnroe put it, they are ready to compete “one last time.”