Every year, tennis fans eagerly await intense matchups between their favorite players, but since its inauguration in 2017, the Laver Cup has emerged as a standout highlight in the calendar where the Grand Slams mostly take all the spotlight. This tournament is known for its fervor and competitive spirit between Team Europe and Team World and it is now being hailed as a formidable contender alongside the sport’s most prestigious Grand Slam events.

The WTA pro and analyst Alize Lim took to the ‘Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast to express her excitement about the event. Highlighting its significance in the tennis calendar and making some pretty big claims while addressing the work of the legend – Roger Federer, she stated, “It becomes even almost as exciting as a Grand Slam somehow. I mean, I’m excited like it’s a fifth slam now. I love it.”

For the last seven years, the Laver Cup has transformed into more than just a competition. Inspired by golf’s Ryder Cup, Federer wanted something that celebrated tennis in a whole new way, by bringing together European tennis players and having them compete against players from different parts of the world. The event has since promised to be a thrilling showcase of talent and camaraderie.

Alize Lim’s excitement reflects this enthusiasm. “I think now they’re probably all hoping to be selected. And it feels like they can be part of history by taking part in the tournament. Especially with what happened with Rafa and Roger. When he pulled out also, I was almost thinking that Rafa would use Laver Cup to maybe retire,” she added, referring to the emotional moment during the 2022 Laver Cup.

However, Lim’s assertion that the Laver Cup feels like a Grand Slam may seem ridiculous to some due to the inherent differences between these events. Grand Slams are individual tournaments with a long history and tradition, featuring a larger draw and more matches played over two weeks. In contrast to that, the Laver Cup is a team event held over three days, where players compete in both singles and doubles formats.

Despite these differences though, there are compelling reasons for Lim’s statement, as she said, “I feel like the interest is growing more and more every year. And what else to say? I mean, so cool. And just just the fact that Roger’s gonna show up, I’m just so excited.”

After this year’s Laver Cup, we will see the two top-ranked players and iconic captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe passing the baton to Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi respectively. And Federer had something to say about them.

Federer looks forward to a bittersweet face-off between friends and rivals on the court

With legends Borg and McEnroe competing as captains of Team Europe and Team World for the seventh and final time, Federer expressed mixed emotions. Acknowledging their significant contributions to the event, Federer told The Tennis Gazette, “I would love them to be captains forever.” He also reflected on how the Laver Cup has evolved over seven years, stating, “It was supposed to be three years…and it ended up being seven. It’s been seven great years. Couldn’t have had better captains, to be honest.”

While Federer won’t be playing in the tournament this time around, he has expressed his commitment to being involved in the festivities and cheering on Team Europe. Expressing optimism about Noah taking over Team Europe’s captaincy from next year, the 20-time Grand Slam winner stated, “Of course, in the future, I hope that Bjorn and John will return…that they will always be friends and guests as captains of the inaugural event.”

Even from the sidelines, Federer’s presence will undoubtedly be felt as he continues to champion the spirit of the Laver Cup and celebrate its legacy alongside fans and players alike.