As the tennis world shifts its focus to the remaining tournaments of the season, all eyes are turning to the Laver Cup, one of the most anticipated events on the calendar. Players and fans alike are buzzing with excitement, eager to witness the thrilling matchups and iconic moments that have become a staple of the competition. But while the anticipation is high, not everyone is feeling the same level of enthusiasm. Tennis legend Patrick McEnroe recently revealed that this year’s Laver Cup will have a tinge of sadness for him—and his reason might just tug at many heartstrings.

McEnroe engaged in an interaction with the official media team of the Laver Cup and deliberated on a wide range of aspects of the tournament. He highlighted the importance of the tournament for him and reflected upon why the upcoming edition would bring him a little sadness. 

Speaking in the interview, McEnroe said, “There’s a little bit of sadness about this final one for us, because it’s been such an amazing run.” Remember, the 58-year-old and his brother, John McEnroe, would be stepping down from the leadership positions as the vice-captain and captain of Team World after this edition of the tournament. They will also be making way for Andre Agassi, who will take over the captaincy going ahead. However, Patrick McEnroe did not fail to express the great experiences that this tournament has brought to him. 

“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.” The McEnroe brothers took over the leadership positions in the inaugural edition of the Laver Cup itself in 2017 and since then, they have managed to help Team World succeed immensely. This dedication has continued to remain intact despite the two stepping down. 

Founded by Roger Federer, the tournament has witnessed Team World emerging victorious for two consecutive seasons in 2022 and 2023. McEnroe, meanwhile, wishes to convert this into a hattrick in the upcoming edition of the tournament scheduled to take place between 20 to 22 September in Berlin. “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.”

Team World’s dedication will also be fueled by the presence of American stars Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe; a pair of South Americans in Francisco Cerundolo and Alejandro Tabilo, and Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. McEnroe would be poised to win big at this unique tournament with a blend of young and experienced players. 

Patrick McEnroe reveals the most unique aspect of the Laver Cup

The Laver Cup has witnessed some criticism from the tennis community this year especially due to the scheduling challenges. The tournament will follow the Davis Cup which is being played soon after the US Open. However, for Patrick McEnroe, the tournament is a blend of unique and competitive spirit.

Speaking in the same interview, McEnroe said, “One of the great things about Laver Cup to me has always been [that] you get 12 of the best players in the world on one court in one weekend, that’s really unique to the sport.” However, he admitted that his team is currently seen as underdogs especially due to the presence of equally heavy-weight players in the opponent team.

As the tournament unfolds, it would be interesting to see if McEnroe and his brother can help Team World clinch the title for the third consecutive time and make their final edition memorable for themselves.