At the first Laver Cup seven years ago in Prague Alexander Zverev was already number four in the world rankings, but still only a promise for the future. The then 20-year-old from Hamburg had no reservations about dealing with superstars Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, but in terms of attention he only played a minor role.
This has changed fundamentally in 2024. Federer has ended his career, Nadal is about to and has cancelled his participation in Berlin at short noticeZverev is now the player with the most experience in the Laver Cup on Team Europe. Captain Björn Borg nominated him for the European team for the fifth time at the home event in the Uber Arena. In all of his previous participations, Europe ended up winning.
It would be quite normal if Alexander Zverev were to take on the role of team leader now, but he himself said before the start: “I think everyone here is a leader in their own right. Of course, it might be a little different for me in Germany, but here you don’t need anyone who gets loud in the locker room.”
Zverev is now 27 years old, and only three of the twelve players who will be playing for the title in the team competition named after Australian tennis legend Rod Laver from Friday to Sunday are older than the German. Zverev knows what it’s like when the pressure increases day by day and it’s all about winning important points: “I’ve already won two decisive matches at the Laver Cup. Of course that’s in the back of my mind and it helps,” he said. He then added: “It’s a new week. Team World won the last two times.”
Zverev is prepared to play as often as necessary to help the team. It is expected that he will play the maximum of two singles matches possible for a player. On Friday he will first appear in the doubles to conclude the evening session.
I have already won two decisive matches at the Laver Cup. Of course that is in the back of my mind and it helps.
Alexander Zverev about the Laver Cup experience
For Björn Borg, it is important to use his strongest players when there are the most points to be won. On Friday, one point is awarded for each win, on Saturday it is two, and on Sunday it is even three. The decision in this mode is therefore definitely not made until the final day.
Rod Laver also once predicted a great future for him
Zverev knows all this and he also knows about the unique atmosphere in the locker room. “Normally you sit there and want to beat your opponents and now all of a sudden they are your teammates. That is really special,” he said, emphasizing once again that the Laver Cup is the only tournament in the world “where you have five top ten players as your teammates.” He himself is now number two and the highest-ranked player of all participants.
The opposing team World can only keep up with world number seven Taylor Fritz. However, Zverev has recently lost against the American in both Wimbledon and at the US OpenHowever, the German has no particular desire for revenge. “If it comes to that, I’ll play against Taylor Fritz,” he said about a possible duel at the Laver Cup.
In 2017, the great Rod Laver predicted a great future for the then young German. Zverev has everything he needs to be at the topsaid the Australian in Prague at the time. Alexander Zverev is still not at the top, but he is closer than ever before in his career. And even if he doesn’t want to be a leader, he is still a player that the others will look up to at the 2024 Laver Cup.
