Laver Cup, 2019, Geneva, Switzerland

[Moxie]

Early days, but I can see this developing into something like the Ryder Cup in Golf given a bit of time to grow.

I thought it was modeled after the Ryder Cup. Aren't they supposed to get points for it? I see nothing on the live tennis rankings. I still say no one knows how many points there are.

 

[Jelenafan]

For God’s sakes it’s an exhibition, an entertaining one I admit, but who are we fooling?

 

[tented]

I thought it was modeled after the Ryder Cup. Aren't they supposed to get points for it? I see nothing on the live tennis rankings. I still say no one knows how many points there are.

As is now the case for Davis Cup and the Olympics, I don’t think there are points for Laver Cup.

 

[Moxie]

As is now the case for Davis Cup and the Olympics, I don’t think there are points for Laver Cup.

But, then, what makes it not an exo...just that the h2h matches count?

 

[tented]

But, then, what makes it not an exo...just that the h2h matches count?

I guess so, since it’s now an ATP-sanctioned event.

 

[tented]

 

[monfed]

Garbage tournament. There's no stake in the game, no tension, no real emotion, so what's the point? Fed shouldn't have created this tournament.

 

[britbox]

Garbage tournament. There's no stake in the game, no tension, no real emotion, so what's the point? Fed shouldn't have created this tournament.

Maybe not now, but it could have potential.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Garbage tournament. There's no stake in the game, no tension, no real emotion, so what's the point? Fed shouldn't have created this tournament.

I agree. I don't understand why they are so happy to win or why they are so nervous/excited while watching the matches, it all feels like an act. However it is fun to watch but it feels more like a scripted exhibition (but with players trying their best). Kind of like the WTF. :whistle:

As for Federer, unfortunately he cares a lot about money and that's why he created this tournament. That's also why he abandoned Nike for Uniqlo, and IMO it became a curse and he hasn't won a slam since then. He should have kept his loyalty to Nike who treated him like a king. That's why I respect Nadal so much, he has been loyal to his team and sponsors throughout his career, he didn't ditch them for $$$.

 

[Jelenafan]

I agree. I don't understand why they are so happy to win or why they are so nervous/excited while watching the matches, it all feels like an act. However it is fun to watch but it feels more like a scripted exhibition (but with players trying their best). Kind of like the WTF. :whistle:

As for Federer, unfortunately he cares a lot about money and that's why he created this tournament. That's also why he abandoned Nike for Uniqlo, and IMO it became a curse and he hasn't won a slam since then. He should have kept his loyalty to Nike who treated him like a king. That's why I respect Nadal so much, he has been loyal to his team and sponsors throughout his career, he didn't ditch them for $$$.

ALL the players care about money. None of them play just for the sheer “love of the game”.

I will say this, I’m beyond skeptical about all the ballyhooed talk that Uniqlo’s contact with Federer was not dependent on him playing XYZ tournaments: etc. The FO was a clear example to me that Uniqlo wanted their “ambassador” at the highest visibility tournament on continental Europe.

Nothing wrong with that, but all these players have pressure from their sponsors/endorsesmemts

 

[Nadalfan2013]

ALL the players care about money. None of them play just for the sheer “love of the game”.

I will say this, I’m beyond skeptical about all the ballyhooed talk that Uniqlo’s contact with Federer was not dependent on him playing XYZ tournaments: etc. The FO was a clear example to me that Uniqlo wanted their “ambassador” at the highest visibility tournament on continental Europe.

Nothing wrong with that, but all these players have pressure from their sponsors/endorsesmemts

Yeah of course they all do but Rafa is one of the rare players who care more about family, friends and loyalty than about money.

 

[Andy22]

nadal love for sport and the fans is unmatched by anyone, we should start calling mr.humble.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Maybe that's what they should do with "The Laver Cup;" make it an event to be held every 2 or 4 years to rival Ryder Cup or Olympics!

Not yet. Until Rod is with us, keep it every year to have him bask in pride. When eventually (and sadly) Rod departs, the tourney's image and feel may change without a caption star. Then they may change its frequency if needed.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The only way to make this event guaranteed to be a success every year is to make the teams fairly even. We cannot do it like Team Europe and Team World or anything like that. At any given moment stronger players may be coming from the same region and thus make the contest quite uneven.

We should create a match between Team ODD - all odd ranked players at an apriori designated date and Team EVEN - all even ranked players at an apriori designated date. Then, the teams would be by definition fairly balanced.

Now, you may say no one is going to be excited to cheer for team ODD or team EVEN as they are quite artificial. That is of course true. But, anyway the whole thing is artificial (considering tennis is an individual game) and at least this way it will be a good contest.

 

[Fiero425]

The only way to make this event guaranteed to be a success every year is to make the teams fairly even. We cannot do it like Team Europe and Team World or anything like that. At any given moment stronger players may be coming from the same region and thus make the contest quite uneven.

We should create a match between Team ODD - all odd ranked players at an apriori designated date and Team EVEN - all even ranked players at an apriori designated date. Then, the teams would be by definition fairly balanced.

Now, you may say no one is going to be excited to cheer for team ODD or team EVEN as they are quite artificial. That is of course true. But, anyway the whole thing is artificial (considering tennis is an individual game) and at least this way it will be a good contest.

It's inherent in sports the inequities in talent, coaching, & experience! It's why they play the game; to see if it can be overcome (those shortcomings)! Right now the rest of the world "stinks" in comparison to Europe! A lot of it has to do with "the talent" and we tip our hats to them, but some of it is apathy from their rivals! They can't really be hungry like Europe once was to catch up to the powerhouses of tennis history like the USA & Australia! The money and outside interests having little or nothing to do with tennis has to be affecting the potential of many players; esp. here in The States! They might have gotten away with it if not for the lengthy careers of Fedalovic who're hanging on like vampires we have to appreciate since they're making history just breathing air at this time! :whistle:

 

[Carol]

Rafa was more concerned about the R. Madrid match than the press conference lol

https://as.com/tenis/2019/09/23/videos/1569235033_648971.html

 

[Moxie]

The only way to make this event guaranteed to be a success every year is to make the teams fairly even. We cannot do it like Team Europe and Team World or anything like that. At any given moment stronger players may be coming from the same region and thus make the contest quite uneven.

We should create a match between Team ODD - all odd ranked players at an apriori designated date and Team EVEN - all even ranked players at an apriori designated date. Then, the teams would be by definition fairly balanced.

Now, you may say no one is going to be excited to cheer for team ODD or team EVEN as they are quite artificial. That is of course true. But, anyway the whole thing is artificial (considering tennis is an individual game) and at least this way it will be a good contest.

Maybe you're talking about "down the road," but it seems that it has been a success, so far. Also, I don't really know how the teams could have been more disparate this year, in terms of rankings, and yet Team World made it a contest. When the Big 3 fade, the teams should even out more naturally, or at least somewhat. While your "Odds and Evens" idea is interesting, it doesn't really give spectators enough to hang their hats on. Maybe that doesn't matter so much. I did feel my own loyalties shifting over the weekend, depending on who was playing. (And sometimes even within a match.)

 

[Chris Koziarz]

Maybe you're talking about "down the road," but it seems that it has been a success, so far. Also, I don't really know how the teams could have been more disparate this year, in terms of rankings, and yet Team World made it a contest. When the Big 3 fade, the teams should even out more naturally, or at least somewhat. While your "Odds and Evens" idea is interesting, it doesn't really give spectators enough to hang their hats on. Maybe that doesn't matter so much. I did feel my own loyalties shifting over the weekend, depending on who was playing. (And sometimes even within a match.)

It's important to have some loyalties, be it national or "continental" for the match/tourney to have a fan support. The GSM idea washes out any notion of fanship behind odd/even teams, so it is not good from that perspective.
Based on your location, you should have rooted behind the World, because they have many players from your country. For me it's less obvious, as only one player (Kyrgios in World) is from my continent/country but I don't like said player. So I rooted for Eu (naturally as I like most players there). But I think we might be exceptions here and most casual observants would root behind teams based on their locations.

 

[Moxie]

It's important to have some loyalties, be it national or "continental" for the match/tourney to have a fan support. The GSM idea washes out any notion of fanship behind odd/even teams, so it is not good from that perspective.
Based on your location, you should have rooted behind the World, because they have many players from your country. For me it's less obvious, as only one player (Kyrgios in World) is from my continent/country but I don't like said player. So I rooted for Eu (naturally as I like most players there). But I think we might be exceptions here and most casual observants would root behind teams based on their locations.

Right...I should have been rooting for "World," as a North American. But, of course my main loyalty is to Rafa. Also, I like Tsitsipas. And, whether or not folks find it odd, I was rooting for Roger in his matches. But then I was rooting for Sock and Fritz. Even Kyrgios, I have to say. So it was a mixed bag, for me. I mentioned above that I think the value of Laver Cup is that is crosses national boundaries, and puts players together who might not otherwise be joined. So perhaps it doesn't matter to group them "Europe" and "World." Perhaps Odds and Evens, or just blue and red is fine. I think the main takeaway is that pitting top players on teams is really fun for the players and for the fans. It will probably develop as time goes on.

 

[Andy22]

Maybe next season team world can finally win laver cup with players like T.fritz, D.Shapovalov becoming much better players and maybe k.nishikori finally playing.