The first three members of Team World have been confirmed for the 2022 Laver Cup, to be held at The O2 in London from 23-25 September 2022.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz and Diego Schwartzman will join John McEnroe‘s squad, giving Team World the top player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Canada, the United States and Argentina.
All three players have represented Team World in previous Laver Cups. Both Auger-Aliassime and Fritz are making their second appearances, while Schwartzman returns for his third showing.
“These are tough competitors each with a track record now of beating the best and winning titles at the highest level,” McEnroe said. “They also understand Laver Cup competition and how matches can swing so easily. We have been extremely close to pulling off a Team World victory in four attempts and will have an excellent chance with Felix, Taylor and Diego on the team.”
World No. 9 Auger-Aliassime entered the Top 10 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time in January and won the first ATP Tour title of his young career in Rotterdam in February. The 21-year-old made his Laver Cup debut against Matteo Berrettini last year in Boston, where he fell just short in a Match Tie-break in a two-hour, 52-minute match — the longest in the competition’s history.
“I’m excited to be returning for Team World,” Auger-Aliassime said. “Boston was a great first experience of Laver Cup and the atmosphere was very special. One year on, I feel confident that I can win points for Team World this time around.”
Indian Wells champion Fritz competed in the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva, where he beat then-world No. 5 Dominic Thiem in what he called “one of the biggest wins of my career”.
“I thrive in a team environment and Laver Cup really brings out the best in me,” said the World No. 14.
Schwartzman, a two-time ATP Tour finalist this season, has previously suited up for Team World in Chicago in 2018 and Boston in 2021.
“I have great memories of playing Laver Cup and forming such strong bonds with my teammates,” added Schwartzman. “I can’t wait to take part this year at The O2. The atmosphere will be out of this world.”
Under Laver Cup rules, the three highest-ranked players from Europe and the world on the qualification date (6 June) are invited to compete on the six-man teams. The remaining three places are held for captains’ picks.
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been confirmed for Team Europe, with more player announcements to be made in the coming weeks.
Source Tennis – ATP World Tour
