Laver Cup = Exho?? Errr…no

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
A week has passed. Rajah Federer’s homage to the living legend ATG - one of the few living players to have a Grand Slam court named in his honor - was an unparalleled and, admittedly, unexpected triumph.

In its confetti-strewn and stale Moet afterglow, spectators and the sport’s commentators alike were left almost unsure of how exactly they should react to what they had witnessed. WTF was that? In fact, could it upstage the WTF itself (which already just manages to straddle the grey zone in-between a high-level exho and a sanctioned ATP event)


Here are 20-ish reasons the Laver Cup defo wasn’t some stinkin' exho:

  • Only person with a mic was the umpire
  • Appearance fees were in force (as on the regular Tour) but there was substantial prize money for the winners in addition. Not a joke at all.
  • Rolex was all over the advertising hoardings but absent from Fred’s wrist
  • There was an inaugural trophy, set to be engraved for posterity
  • Technically, Prague was meant to create a ‘home team’ atmosphere (and distinct advantage) for the hosts, Team Europe
  • Rivalry and spirit of competition was real – teams stayed at separate hotels
  • Kyrgios was dialled-in
  • It is an annual event with no end-date planned
  • The quality of the tennis was the only ‘entertainment’ on offer
  • Team8 is a commercial enterprise and Tennis Australia and the USTA have invested in its future
  • Ballboys did not play any points
  • Kyrgios did not tank
  • Proceeds from the 3-day sellout crowds didn’t go to a charity
  • Players were selected based on commercially-driven criteria (ranking and popularity)
  • Kyrgios cried
  • Immediately compared to golf’s Ryder Cup
  • Immediately seen as a potential replacement to ailing Davis Cup
  • Professional linespeople, ballkids, umpires and tournament referee and director
  • Prize money was based on performance
  • Have instituted a unique and solid player selection and scoring system
  • Players signed up for the $ame reason$ they enter regular ATP/ITF-sanctioned tournaments, not for some cause or foundation
  • Rafa woke up early to practice (“I don’t practise before an exhibition match normally, no?”

It's an inaugural cup event – no ATP points does not in itself mean that it’s meaningless. Time alone and its budding history will be the judge of that. The ATP itself had similar beginnings. The Tour as we know it might one day come to be known as the Laver Circuit :eek:

With two ATGs involved and the resources their agents and management companies can potentially harnesss…the ATP should be very worries, as it only takes player support to create a rival association. It stands for innovation at a time the sport needs it. Pretty sure the ATP will accelerate any plans they had to test new things out now.

Where the GOATs lead, the rest of the field will follow…

laver-reuters-m.jpg
 
C

Chadillac

Guest
It was a fun event, not sure why people are trying so hard to validate it. People were happy.

It wasnt a fair competition though. You the two leaders in grand slams against people who arent ranked top 15 and not a single gs.

Wtf has the best players playing the best players, laver cup doesnt
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
It was a fun event, not sure why people are trying so hard to validate it. People were happy.

It wasnt a fair competition though. You the two leaders in grand slams against people who arent ranked top 15 and not a single gs.

Wtf has the best players playing the best players, laver cup doesnt

Not saying it was 'fair' (whatever that means) - besides, Davis Cup works on the basis of the accident of birth. And when that doesn't work, just apply for a more convenient passport.

The typical draw on the Tour isn't always fair and is made worse by the totally unfair wildcard system

It wasn't an exho, so that's the point I'm trying to make

Based strictly on ranking, the WTF does attract the best players, no argument there. This competition could do exactly the same if it introduced stringent criteria.
 

reaper

Legend
There's little doubt they're trying for a Ryder Cup type event. There's a fair chance it will work because while all the current greats are European, many of the rising stars are not.
 

Tennisanity

Legend
Randomly constructed teams with no history and Nadal is acting like it's life and death if they lose. LOL. What a joke.

After the loss the World team is drinking beers and merry. LOL. Completely fake.

The point is, if it was truly real no one would be defended why it's not fake :). That it comes into question is the biggest black mark.
 

Pyrolysis

Rookie
So does that mean Isner has an official win over #1 Nadal? Cause... yikes that's an embarrassing loss.
What's so embarrassing about that?
Nadal has been the beneficiary of no competition all year (as has Federer). Isner played well on conditions that heavily suited him, no shame there.
 

70後

Hall of Fame
  • Only person with a mic was the umpire
  • Appearance fees were in force (as on the regular Tour) but there was substantial prize money for the winners in addition. Not a joke at all.
  • Rolex was all over the advertising hoardings but absent from Fred’s wrist
  • There was an inaugural trophy, set to be engraved for posterity
  • Technically, Prague was meant to create a ‘home team’ atmosphere (and distinct advantage) for the hosts, Team Europe
  • Rivalry and spirit of competition was real – teams stayed at separate hotels
  • Kyrgios was dialled-in
  • It is an annual event with no end-date planned
  • The quality of the tennis was the only ‘entertainment’ on offer
  • Team8 is a commercial enterprise and Tennis Australia and the USTA have invested in its future
  • Ballboys did not play any points
  • Kyrgios did not tank
  • Proceeds from the 3-day sellout crowds didn’t go to a charity
  • Players were selected based on commercially-driven criteria (ranking and popularity)
  • Kyrgios cried
  • Immediately compared to golf’s Ryder Cup
  • Immediately seen as a potential replacement to ailing Davis Cup
  • Professional linespeople, ballkids, umpires and tournament referee and director
  • Prize money was based on performance
  • Have instituted a unique and solid player selection and scoring system
  • Players signed up for the $ame reason$ they enter regular ATP/ITF-sanctioned tournaments, not for some cause or foundation
  • Rafa woke up early to practice (“I don’t practise before an exhibition match normally, no?”

If Nick was serious, one may be certain it definitely was.
woohoo.gif


It should be renamed the Krygios Cup.
 

Enga

Hall of Fame
Losing to Isner is very real. People underestimate how a slow indoor court can work in a big guy's favor. :p If team world had a lineup that looked like Isner, Raonic, Del Po, Querrey, and Anderson, then the odds would have been even in my opinion. It would have been the giants on their favorite turf.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
It's long overdue, which is the only sad part, starting towards the end of Roger's career. I wish they'd thought of it sooner.

As for Isner beating Rafa, that's nothing to be ashamed of. They played on Rafa's worst surface which suits Isner's strong points and anyone can go down to big servers any time.
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
22. Players played


Now that the event's over and everyone's cheques have cleared, the highest form of endorsement the Laver Cup can have will be when the players involved (not commentators, mind you) refer to their result/performance vs another player at the tournament during their press conferences at Beijing and Tokyo.

Translation for haters: players respect the status of the tournament, believe in the format and took it (and will continue to take it) absolutely seriously.

IMO, with that level of buy-in, commentators and the wider tennis press will follow their lead and it'll only take a season or two until Laver Cup stats and H2Hs are official, too.

I absolutely see this happening and there's no risk of ridicule either as Fred and co., the USTA and Tennis OZ made sure every aspect of the tourney was Slam-grade and certifiable.

We're lucky to have been present at the dawn of tennis history, I think!
 

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
Dream on.

Nice try.

It was a fun event, not sure why people are trying so hard to validate it. People were happy.

It wasnt a fair competition though. You the two leaders in grand slams against people who arent ranked top 15 and not a single gs.

Wtf has the best players playing the best players, laver cup doesnt

The Laver Cup will die as soon as Fedal retire

If Federer and Nadal don't play next year this event will completely collapse

Love that. Watching them attempt to be nice to each other would be hysterical.

Absolutely agree. Laver Cup organisers have practically limitless options to come up with a compelling format each year.

With Fed at the helm, Rafa ready to help, Laver's name on the banner, cash in the bank, buy-in from players, mixing Old GOATs with 'NextBigThings' and even the option to spice it up with female coaches and so on, it's always gonna be a thriller, even post-Fedal.

Imagine Fed as a full-time hype-man for the Laver Cup...how can you stop that train?? :D
 

Fedforever

Hall of Fame
Absolutely agree. Laver Cup organisers have practically limitless options to come up with a compelling format each year.

Spot on. While the Cup this year definitely needed the Fedal energy next year and subsequently it will have a momentum of its own. My guess is if tickets were put on sale now they'd sell out in minutes.
 

QuadCam

Professional
It was a "completive exhibition." Far too many close matches and tiebreakers for me to think otherwise. In topical exhibition fashion, the first set loser would make a great comeback and win the second set without much drama..... Forcing the match tiebreaker. Too many matches like that. I think in the tiebreakers, the guys were definitely going for their shots. The tbs were great tennis.

Plus, ticket prices were high for this event. It was always going to be a full 4 match 3rd day. Guaranteed! How upset would ticket holders have been if the event was over after the 1st couple of matches on the 3rd day??

It was great tennis.... I thoroughly enjoyed the LC. But it was a bit staged.. The one WWE moment was Nadal losing to Isner. Seemed planned.... And Nadal didn't seem happy about it. But, it setup a fantastic match with fed and NK...... And that match looked like it played out in full force.... No exho going on there.

No matter how it went down, I think it was a great event and I'm looking forward to it next year.
 

Fedforever

Hall of Fame
And Nadal didn't seem happy about it

If it was planned wouldn't it have been more likely that they persuaded Zverev to lose to Querry? I can imagine that more than someone asking Nadal to lose. Plus I'm not sure why it's thought so impossible that Nadal should lose to Isner indoors.
 

Surion

Hall of Fame
Will it always be played on HC?
I'd like it if the losing team could choose the surface for the next year.
 

Surion

Hall of Fame
It was a "completive exhibition." Far too many close matches and tiebreakers for me to think otherwise. In topical exhibition fashion, the first set loser would make a great comeback and win the second set without much drama..... Forcing the match tiebreaker. Too many matches like that. I think in the tiebreakers, the guys were definitely going for their shots. The tbs were great tennis.

Plus, ticket prices were high for this event. It was always going to be a full 4 match 3rd day. Guaranteed! How upset would ticket holders have been if the event was over after the 1st couple of matches on the 3rd day??

It was great tennis.... I thoroughly enjoyed the LC. But it was a bit staged.. The one WWE moment was Nadal losing to Isner. Seemed planned.... And Nadal didn't seem happy about it. But, it setup a fantastic match with fed and NK...... And that match looked like it played out in full force.... No exho going on there.

No matter how it went down, I think it was a great event and I'm looking forward to it next year.
Nadal didn't seem happy about it?
Hmm...maybe because he lost? Come on.
And it wasn't staged goddammit.

Spectators knew that the last day could be disappointing or do you expect them to stage EVERY Laver Cup from now on?

Get real mate.
 
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