I didn't watch it this year, but watched a lot the first year, and lesser amounts the next couple years.
In the first edition, there was some electricity, especially with Roger and Rafa playing doubles. After that, some of that novelty wore off.
Now, I can't judge the quality of this year's play, but when one team (who has now won all four editions) wins 14-1, and you cancel the remaining (was it three?) matches, that's not only a problem, but a joke. A ripoff. I mean, can't you have some other events planned, or just...I don't know...play the stinkin' matches that were scheduled. It's not as if the outcome of the team competition was in much doubt.
Contrast this with the Ryder Cup which was just held this weekend. I'm much more of a tennis than a golf fan, but the Ryder Cup has many built-in advantages:
- By now, an almost 100-year history.
- Natural teams: Would you rather play for the USA, or "the rest of the world"? And while it's questionable that there is that much pan-European pride, there is in the Ryder Cup, as often Europe is the underdog to the US. Over its recent history, they also seem to respond to the the team format better than the American players.
- In Ryder Cup, every match is worth a full point, which could be halved. In Laver Cup, they escalate the point value of matches (gimmicky) and yet this year, they still had to cancel matches today. Ridiculous.
- Plus, the Ryder Cup is played every two years, which makes it a little more special for that reason alone.
What else? Counting this exhibition toward head-to-head records is insulting. Now, if they start awarding ranking points, it will have jumped a bunch of sharks.