Georges Goven, tennis consultant for Eurosport and commentator of the eighth edition of the Laver Cup, recently gave his opinion on the exhibition competition created by Roger Federer.
Accustomed to having a rather negative opinion on this type of event, he nevertheless recognized the charm given off by the event: “I have a rather positive view of an event which attracts so many people, which brings together so many champions.
There is still a rivalry, a bit like in the Ryder Cup, between Europe and the rest of the world.
It allows all these players to commune a little together whereas all year long, they are opponents.
Throughout the year, they speak to each other sparingly, they never dine together, they see each other rarely.
And suddenly they are together under the same banner. I think it’s nice, from a human point of view. For now, it’s still an exhibition.
But, it is very nice, because there is the public and the players. We feel that they play like a normal competition, it is not an exhibition where we laugh.
It is the players who will make this event successful. The day there are fewer and fewer top players who want to play it, it is dead.
The beauty of this event is that most of the best players play it.”
