TENNIS | LAVER CUP
Laver Cup 2024: What it is, how it works, format, scoring and rules
The premiere men’s tennis team competition pits six of the best European players against six of their counterparts from around the world.
The long-awaited 2024 Laver Cup, part of the ATP tennis tour, will take place in Berlin’s Uber Arena from September 20th to 22nd. Uber Arena has around 11,500 seats and offers a free Fan Zone that will be officially open on Thursday morning, September 19.
Named after the legendary Rod Laver and brought to life by Roger Federer, the Laver Cup is a thrilling competition in which the top European players face off against the best from around the world, similar to their golfing counterparts - the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup.
Team Europe, led by the esteemed Bjorn Borg, includes the talented Carlos Alcaraz, who recently clinched the titles at the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, along with the silver medal at the Olympic tournament in Paris, as well as the world number two, Alexander Zverev.
While Team Europe captured the first four editions of the Laver Cup, Team World has begun to reel in their rivals, and heads into this weekend trailing 2-4, captained by the seven-time Grand Slam winner John McEnroe, features the impressive Taylor Fritz, who recently reached the finals of the US Open, and the skilled Frances Tiafoe.
2024 Laver Cup: Lineup selection
The top three ranked players from each team will receive an automatic invitation based on their ATP singles ranking as of the Monday after Roland-Garros. The remaining three players will be selected as “captain’s picks” and will be announced before the start of the US Open.
If any players are announced before Roland-Garros, the team captain commits to using a captain’s pick for them if they don’t qualify based on ranking.
2024 Laver Cup - format, rules
The prestigious Laver Cup, one of the most sought-after tennis events of the season, is set to take place at the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, over three action-packed days. The tournament will feature both day and night sessions on 20 and 21 September, adding to the excitement for fans and players alike.
During the tournament, points will be awarded for each match won, with the number of points increasing as the event progresses. Teams will earn one point for a match win on the opening day (20 September), followed by two on Saturday and three points for matches on Sunday (22 September).
The team that reaches 13 points first will be crowned the Laver Cup champion. Currently held by back-to-back champions Team World, the competition promises to be intense and captivating. A minimum of nine matches will be played between the two teams, with the potential for up to 13 matches if the competition remains closely contested.
Suppose the tournament is tied after 12 matches. In that case, a final overtime doubles match, known as ‘The Decider, ’ will be played to determine the ultimate winner, adding a dramatic and thrilling conclusion to the tournament.