The Laver Cup, founded by Roger Federer and his management team, has been a hugely popular event since its inception in 2017. This year alone, the event saw great success. Following the anticipation of watching Team Europe regain its crown from Team World, however, it has remained exclusively for male players for the last seven years. This brings up the big question, could a women’s version of the Laver Cup be the next big step for tennis?

Taking to his podcast ‘Served With Andy Roddick’, the former world No. 1 reflected on the success of the recently concluded Laver Cup. And posed a thought-provoking question: why isn’t there a women’s equivalent of the Laver Cup? He stated, “If you’re a huge investor in women’s tennis, then go, just copy and paste this event, this arena, right? I mean, you, yeah, there’s, there’s a million, the Chrissy Martina, like, whatever. I mean, there’s a million. Like, the naming isn’t the issue… If the situation was reversed and Serena had started something and it was a wild success, it wouldn’t be Serena’s responsibility to go put a men’s event together as well, or to bring them into something that is successful.”

However, the WTA has reportedly drawn a line in the sand, firmly stating it is not pursuing or collaborating on a women’s version of the Laver Cup. Fans speculate that this decision may stem from several factors, including existing events like the Hopman Cup, which already feature mixed-gender teams.

That’s a bit of a letdown since Tony Godsick, Federer’s long-time manager and co-creator of the Laver Cup, hinted that a women’s version could happen in the future. For now, though, they’re focused on perfecting the current format.

“In terms of the women’s Laver Cup, we’re going to get this one right first. We’re going to keep building it. Our goal is to be like the Ryder Cup, and the Ryder Cup has a 90-year head start on us,” Godsick said. However, he also acknowledged the potential for a separate women’s event, stating, “If the opportunity exists for us to do something, I don’t think we can call it the women’s Laver Cup. I think we’d have to call it something else and create it, but the format works. So hopefully in the future, we can figure something out.”

Even though the WTA has ruled out the idea for now, future opportunities may arise to create a women’s team event that celebrates top female athletes. But it still makes one wonder, what would a women’s Laver Cup look like?

Envisioning a women’s Laver Cup if it were to unfold

Hypothetically speaking, if this event ever happens, tennis fans might just be in for a treat! With the incredible depth of talent in women’s tennis today, this competition could likely be even more thrilling than the men’s edition!

The Laver Cup is all about uniting the best tennis talent from around the globe, creating a thrilling mix of camaraderie and competition. If a women’s version were to emerge, we could expect top-ranking players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka on Team Europe, while Team World might showcase rising stars like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. Their fierce rivalries would add an exciting edge to the event, but imagine the magic of their teamwork in doubles matches—this could steal the headlines!

This season, we’ve seen these players face off in intense matches that highlight their competitive spirits. For instance, Swiatek and Sabalenka have battled it out on several occasions.  If you recall their 2023 Madrid Open final. Now imagine all that passion while on the same team. The doubles match would be highly anticipated. Perhaps even rivaling the excitement of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal teaming up in 2022.

This Laver Cup season showcased intense rivalries on the court, with Daniil Medvedev joining forces with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev on Team Europe. The event was further electrified by the debut of rising star Carlos Alcaraz. Who played a pivotal role in guiding his team to victory.

With such thrilling matches and dramatic comebacks, the atmosphere at the Laver Cup is always charged with excitement. However, being an all-male edition seems like a missed opportunity to showcase the talent that exists in women’s tennis.

Tony Godsick noted the importance of having a distinct format, stating, “Look, there already exists the Hopman Cup… which combines men and women.” He believes that mixing genders in the current Laver Cup would diminish its uniqueness. He added, “If the opportunity exists for us to do something, I don’t think we can call it the women’s Laver Cup. I think we’d have to call it something else and create it, but the format works.”

Reflecting on his long history with women’s tennis, Godsick also said, “I started in women’s tennis 32 years ago… so I’m a women’s tennis person in my blood.”

While it remains uncertain whether a women’s Laver Cup will come to fruition, fans can only speculate about its exciting potential. So keep your fingers crossed—who knows what the future holds for this discussion!