- Title: Team Europe looks to continue its Laver Cup dominance as third tournament nears
- Date: 18th September 2019
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. TENNIS PLAYER, JOHN ISNER, SAYING: "As our captain (John McEnroe) said, we have been close for two years and we are looking to get over the hump this year, it is going to be very tough. It is going to be very, very tough. It is going to be an incredible atmosphere and we would appreciate if some of you guys actually cheered for us this week. So that would, that would actually go a long way in helping us, because this team over here is pretty decent and, so, as I said, we are going to have our hands full, so thanks a lot Geneva, you guys are fantastic."
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2019 16:23
- Keywords: John Isner preview John McEnroe Laver Cup Bjorn Borg Rod Laver Roger Federer Nick Kyrgios Rafael Nadal
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Sport,Tennis
- Reuters ID: LVA004AX6R1VJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Swiss city of Geneva welcomed some of the best male tennis players in the world on Wednesday (September 18) two days ahead of the start of the third edition of the Laver Cup.
The tournament, a three-day team event between Europe and the rest of the world, became an official part of the ATP Tour in May this year following its runaway success in its first two editions in Prague and Chicago.
Federer, one of the instigators of the team event who hails from the Swiss city Basel, said he was happy to see the tournament played in his native Switzerland. He will play alongside his rival and friend Rafael Nadal who just won the U.S. Open.
Former U.S. player John McEnroe, a seven-times Grand Slam singles champion, captains Team World while Team Europe are led by his former rival and 11-times Grand Slam Swedish champion Bjorn Borg.
Team Europe have won both previous editions and are solid favourites to make it a hat-trick, leaving American John Isner to plead with the Geneva crowd to show some love and support for the underdogs.
The event, named after Australian great Rod Laver, who won 11 Grand Slams between 1960 and 1969, drew sellout crowds last year as a number of top-ranked players such as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic took part with the Europeans winning 13-8.
(Production: Marina Depetris, Cecile Mantovani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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