Chicago will host next year’s edition of the Laver Cup, the new tennis tournament between teams from Europe and the rest of the world, it has been announced.
The tournament named after Australia’s legendary player Rod Laver took place for the first time at the weekend in the Czech capital Prague, where Team Europe, featuring Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, claimed a 15-9 victory over a Team World side.
The organizers of the Laver Cup – Federer’s management company, TEAM8, Brazilian businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann, a former Davis Cup player and Tennis Australia – had already announced in September 2016 that the second edition of the tournament would take place in the United States.
But they had not announced the venue.
It has now been revealed that the event will be held at the 23,500-seat United Center in Chicago between September 21 and 23 next year.
It will be the biggest tennis event to be held in Chicago for 25 years.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled coming off an incredibly successful inaugural Laver Cup to be hosting this event in the United States next year,” Katrina Adams, President and chief executive of the United States Tennis Association, said.
“It’s personally thrilling for the Laver Cup to be coming to my home town of Chicago.
“To be associated with the legacy of the United Center and working with their team will allow us to showcase this event and attract more players to our sport for a lifetime.”
Former rivals Bjorn Borg of Sweden and John McEnroe of the United States will again serve as captains of Team Europe and Team World.
“The Laver Cup will draw tennis fans from throughout the world to Chicago for a competition like no other,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“But this competition will do more than bring world-class tennis back to Chicago – it will inspire the next generation of tennis champions in neighbourhoods across the city and beyond.”
The plan is for the Laver Cup to be held annually, except during Olympic years, two weeks after the US Open, with the location rotating.
By Duncan Mackay
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.