Laver Cup Official Release
CHICAGO – Former Illinois All-American and Wimbledon finalist, No. 5 world ranked Kevin Anderson, joins former Georgia Bulldog John Isner, and Argentine up and comer, No. 12 Diego Schwartzman on Team World at the Laver Cup held in Chicago's United Center on September 21-23, 2018.
The three players above will join No. 4 world ranked, Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, and Aussie Nick Kyrgios, who is legend John McEnroe's first 'captain's pick' for the team. The final player for the team will be named prior to the US Open.
"I'm very excited to have the Wimbledon finalist Kevin (Anderson) and semifinalist John (Isner) joining Team World for the Laver Cup in Chicago," said McEnroe. "Along with Juan Martin del Potro and Nick (Kyrgios), I think we could be looking at perhaps the world's tallest and biggest-serving tennis team."
A consummate professional for his entire career, Anderson is reaping the rewards of his hard work, as proven with the South African's historic run at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. The Wimbledon Finalist became the first South African since Brian Norton in 1921 to advance to a Wimbledon Final. Leading to his first victory over former Wimbledon champion, Roger Federer, Anderson was the first player to break his serve since Czech player, Tomas Berdych, during the 2017 Wimbledon semifinals.
This year's Laver Cup in Chicago will be Anderson's "coming home party," as he spent three seasons play tennis at Illinois, where he was a three-time All-American and the 2006 NCAA Doubles National Champion with partner, Ryan Rowe.
"I'm incredibly excited about playing the Laver Cup in Chicago this year, and to be playing with such a high quality group of guys in just the second event is really a huge honor for me," said Anderson. "I watched the event last year and thought it was wonderful and I can't wait to join our captain, John McEnroe, who is a legend of the game of tennis, and the rest of our team – it's an amazing opportunity."
Since 1877, Anderson's match against Isner was the longest semifinals in Wimbledon history at 6 hours and 36 minutes. This time around, Anderson is looking forward to having Isner by his side instead of across the net.
"It will be great to have John Isner on my side as a teammate instead of having to face him on the other side of the net," said Anderson. "Our very long Wimbledon semifinal was definitely memorable but it's not an experience I'm keen to repeat anytime soon!"
In the inaugural Laver Cup last year, Team Europe won 15-9 in a thrilling deciding point play where Federer saved a match point to defeat Team World's Nick Kyrgios to garner the lavish trophy.
Quick Facts
- The Laver Cup is a three-day tournament positing a team of six of the best tennis players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world.
- The tournament is named in honor of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, the only man to win two calendar-year Grand Slams.
- Both widely considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport, Björn Borg is captain of Team Europe, while John McEnroe is captain of Team World.
- Wimbledon champions, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, have been named for Team Europe, with further player announcements expected in the coming weeks.
- Team Europe defeated Team World, 15-9 at the inaugural Laver Cup held at the O2 arena in Prague, Czech Republic from September 22-24, 2017.
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