LAVER CUP – Europe Vs the World
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Harry Hopman
The last time an event of this nature was initiated for Tennis was in 1900. Then, Dwight Davis started the Davis-Cup. That gave Tennis the boost and Sport to transcend geopolitical boundaries. The Davis-Cup made ‘Tennis’ to what it is today.
The story goes that, Australia’s legendary coach Harry Hopman, scouting for talent, visited Laver’s home in the Australian outback, to see two brothers play, and saw their younger brother seated on the fence, watching. Testing them, Hopman was impressed most by the boy seated on the fence. This little boy is Rodney George Laver, the last man to win the ‘Grand Slam’ achievement way back in 1969 for the second time.
Rod Laver, as he is popularly known, is still interested in Tennis and attends big events. A challenge trophy has been presented to the world, and it is called the Laver-Cup. It will be for a tie between Europe and the World. The first tie will begin on September 22 in Prague.
Why Laver-Cup?
On hearing this one becomes curious to know why Laver-Cup. We have enough Tennis in the calendar. It is not something Laver does not know. Does he see something that we are all missing? The World knows him and for what he stands for in the world of Sports. Everything about him is correct. I may add very correct, respected and a living icon to represent Tennis. What could be the reason behind this move? I believe the format of Laver-Cup is important for Tennis to retain its interest in the future. The Laver-Cup could to reawaken Tennis, as it is a little lost midst so many events.
Another reason could be that, the strength of the Davis-Cup which brought Tennis this far, is waning in appeal. Many top notch players do not want to play Davis-Cup anymore. This is a clear sign of Davis-Cup’s status today. Also, the classification Of Davis-Cup into lower groups to accommodate regional levels and its subdivisions, does not present appealing Tennis to watch. It is gives the sense that, the quality of Tennis is being sacrificed and made second to national pride and others. Also, regional Davis-Cup events are presented in a Football stadium atmosphere. This is not the appeal of Tennis and Golf. Taking the cheerleaders and street bands into the arena is keeping Tennis enthusiasts away. So, there is room to believe the Laver-Cup will restore the lost lustre of Tennis.
The Laver-Cup teams
The format and the team composition are bridging a span of 60 years of Tennis in the world. Laver’s prime was 1956-1976. He won the second Grand-Slam in 1969. From there the Swedish Ice man Bjorn Borg and American appealing brat and amazing artiste John McEnroe held forth. These two are going to be the team captains in Prague. Only the current best players from the ATP ranking will man the teams.
The players are to be selected from the ATP ranking on the Monday after this year’s Wimbledon. Considering this, Tennis will be good. Europe’s Captain Borg’s team will have the rivals Federer and Nadal as team mates along with new generation players. World Captain McEnroe is also on a similar track.
‘GOAT’ of Tennis
To excite the world about the Laver-Cup, a search is on to find out who is the GOAT of Tennis. The title shocked me and it would have done the same to you. ‘Greatest Of All Time’ is what is meant by GOAT. Scope and challenge of an era changes and will never be a constant throughout time. So as to who the GOAT will be would remain an argument, never a conclusive fact. With the availability of archival material and with modern media the idea can be made as interesting as today’s Tennis to the world.
Nomination of Laver for the title of GOAT is mainly based on his two Grand Slam achievements of 1962 and 1969. No man has got this since 1969. His career spans from 1956 to 1976. He has a record closer to 90% win-loss in his favor. This includes playing on Grass, Clay, Hard, Wood [Parquet] and carpeted surfaces.
Warning too
In recent times there have been some events of this nature. They did not come up to the levels to which Tennis is known for. The idea of Europe as one entity makes one curious. Tennis, although started in England, it is Europe that fostered it to the popularity it is known to be today. At times, there were periods Australia and USA contributed to the cause. Now, once again it is Europe that has the most amount of events, and also the most number of top 100 players.
The final phase of the 2017 season, the hard court US Open series of 6 events is on now. It will end with the last Grand Slam of the year, the championship of the USA, the ‘US Open’.
-George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of German Federation; National coach Sri Lanka & Brunei, Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– contact 94 77 544 8880 geodano2015@gmail.com -