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Roger Federer (Source: Twitter)
Team World won back-to-back Laver Cup titles after defeating Team Europe at this year's edition in Vancouver, Canada on Sunday, September 24. The American pair Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe beat Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7) to hit the 13-point mark needed to upset the Europeans. Team World’s 2022 victory was tennis legend Roger Federer's last professional appearance before his retirement from the sport.
The former Swiss professional was in attendance at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver to watch the final of the 2023 season. After the match, Federer was asked who he would like to see represent Team Europe in the next edition of the competition. The 42-year-old mentioned several big names but also expressed his desire to see tennis greats Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the same team.
"I would like to see Novak again, Alcaraz and Novak on the same team,” Federer told Eurosport. While mentioning German star Sascha Zverev’s name, the former World No. 1 said Team Europe should have someone like Holger Rune in the squad.
“Sascha Zverev would be great for the German market. Someone like Holger Rune, that really hurt Team Europe. Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas pulling out. Daniil Medvedev would be great. I like watching Andrey Rublev, and maybe someone will come through,” the 42-year-old said.
Rune pulled himself out of this year's Laver Cup due to fitness issues. “As I am in treatment with my back it’s not possible for me to play Laver Cup next week. I would have loved to join the fight to get the trophy back to Europe and I will support my teammates from a distance,” he wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
They thoroughly deserved victory: Federer on Team World's dominant win
Team World for the first time defended their title and Federer feels they thoroughly deserved it. They defeated the Europeans dominantly by a margin of 13-2.
“They destroyed Team Europe. Team World played fantastic, they really brought the energy. Everybody brought a point, they were stronger in the doubles. In the singles too, they were moving fast, they were ready to go. They thoroughly deserved victory," said Federer.