Captained by John McEnroe, Team World claimed their second consecutive Laver Cup trophy this Sunday at Rogers Arena, finishing with a dominant 13-2 score against Team Europe. A key moment was the doubles victory by Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, who beat Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7). The match was largely a formality, as Team World had already established a controlling 10-2 lead on Saturday. The early doubles action on Sunday was particularly engaging, featuring grueling rallies and a stunning behind-the-back play by Shelton.
Team World, led by John McEnroe, won its second consecutive Laver Cup on Sunday at Rogers Arena, defeating Team Europe 13-2. Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev were defeated 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7) by Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe. Team World seized a 10-2 lead in the tournament on Saturday, putting itself in control. Sunday’s first doubles match featured several long rallies, with Shelton hitting a behind-the-back shot in the second game.
The match pushed both sets into tiebreakers as Team Europe desperately sought their second win of the tournament. However, the momentum shifted when Hurkacz failed to execute a drop shot, sealing the win for Team World. Overcome by the missed chance, the Polish athlete vented his frustration by throwing his racket.
The vibe this year was a far cry from the previous tournament. Last time, the world witnessed the end of Roger Federer's legendary career in a nail-biting finale where Team World staged an epic recovery to win. This year, the suspense was missing; Team World took charge from Friday's opening ball and cruised to victory well before the final deadline on Sunday.
The Vancouver crowd left feeling underwhelmed, as the lack of a competitive struggle made the event feel flat. While Federer's involvement brought prestige to the city, Team Europe was severely weakened. Missing heavy hitters like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Holger Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, the European squad felt more like a reserve team than a championship contender.
With players such as Zverev and Rune opting for ATP Tour events in China over the Laver Cup, the tournament's prestige is under scrutiny, especially with Berlin set to host next. It may now fall on Roger Federer's organizational influence to ensure that Europe's top-tier talent returns for the Berlin competition next September.
Having Zverev play in his home country would be a huge boost for Team Europe, and the prospect of seeing Alcaraz and Djokovic team up—perhaps even in doubles—would be a massive draw for fans. This year simply lacked the star power that defined the event when Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray shared the court. Hopefully, the organizers can restore that magic for the 2024 edition.