“Watching it over the last handful of years, it’s hard not to be captivated by it,” said Andre Agassi about the Laver Cup. After all, this is the tournament where Roger Federer bid farewell to his legendary career two years ago. The Laver Cup, created by Federer’s management company TEAM8 in 2017, has become a staple in tennis, offering a Ryder Cup-style showdown between Team Europe and Team World. This year, the prestigious event is heading to San Francisco, and for the first time, Agassi will lead Team World as captain. The eight-time Grand Slam champion seems more than ready for the challenge, kicking things off in style at Chase Center.

Agassi was in attendance at the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, February 23, at Chase Center. The NBA game wasn’t just about basketball for him, though. He was there as part of Andre Iguodala‘s jersey retirement ceremony while also promoting the Laver Cup.

The former World No. 1 shared glimpses of his time at the event on Instagram. One post showed him holding up Iguodala’s No. 25 jersey, with a clear view of the Laver Cup branding in the background. Another featured Agassi posing with Iguodala and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, which he captioned, “SF legends.” A final shot captured him enjoying the game courtside as the Warriors dominated with a 126-102 victory.

Agassi officially accepted the invitation to captain Team World in May 2024. In an interview with Tennis Channel DE the 54-year-old said, “For me, it was a good opportunity to keep myself occupied with the game, to stay connected to the sport and hopefully gain new experiences.” Talking about his goal as a coach he said, “I want to get to know the guys properly,’ he explained. ‘It’s not so much about parachuting into their lives for a week. Rather, I want to have open communication and get to know them, to learn what makes them tick as competitors, and to be able to offer a little help where I can.”

Now, with the Laver Cup set to take place in September, he’s preparing for his first-ever outing as team leader. But who will be joining him in the fight against Team Europe?

Ben Shelton joins team World spearheaded by Andre Agassi

American rising star Ben Shelton is the latest addition to Andre Agassi’s squad. The World No. 13 will play in his third consecutive Laver Cup, teaming up with fellow American Taylor Fritz, last year’s US Open finalist and current World No. 4.

Shelton’s career has been on an upward trajectory. The former NCAA singles champion made waves with his second Grand Slam semi-final appearance at the Australian Open earlier this year. Now, he’s gearing up for another “electrifying” Laver Cup experience.

“Nothing compares to Laver Cup,” Shelton said. “It’s electric. The team format, the excitement, the fans – it’s next level. I’m really excited to be playing my third Laver Cup and first in front of an American crowd. I think it’ll be a pretty cool atmosphere in San Francisco, and we are pumped and super motivated to win back the Laver Cup.”

With top-tier men’s tennis making its return to the Bay Area for the first time in over a decade, this year’s Laver Cup is shaping up to be a spectacle. The star-studded lineup only adds to the anticipation. Meanwhile, Team Europe is stacking up its roster. World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are already confirmed for the squad, with Yannick Noah taking on the captaincy.

As September approaches, the excitement continues to build. Can Agassi lead Team World to victory on his debut as captain? Or will Team Europe reclaim its throne?