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Kyrgios and Supermac reunite for Laver Cup

3 minute read

Nick Kyrgios will be back in John McEnroe's 'Team World' at next month's Laver Cup - and is looking forward to playing at one of basketball's great venues.

NICK KYRGIOS.
NICK KYRGIOS. Picture: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images

Nick Kyrgios is to join entertaining forces once again with John McEnroe as two of the most colourful personalities in tennis team up again in a bid to finally lift the Laver Cup.

Kyrgios, who's been in McEnroe's 'Team World' for each of the previous three editions of the team competition named in honour of the Australian great Rod Laver, has yet to taste victory after a hat-trick of defeats by Bjorn Borg's European team.

On Thursday, the Australian was announced along with American big hitters John Isner and Reilly Opelka for next month's contest in Boston, where they'll join the already-named Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime and Argentina's Diego Schwartzman.

The ever-competitive McEnroe is determined to finally break his Laver Cup duck after last year's contest was cancelled because of the pandemic, and reckons that the "ton of experience" that Kyrgios and Isner will bring could make the difference.

"We've had some tough losses over the past couple of years and have come painfully close, especially last time when we were just a tiebreak away from victory.

"I believe that with the energy of the home crowd behind us and maybe a little bit of luck we can get the win this time."

The contest will be played between September 24 and 26 at the TD Garden, the basketball venue in Boston which is home to Kyrgios's beloved NBA team, the Celtics.

"Laver Cup is my favourite week of the year and I just love being part of the team. It's going to be unreal playing at home of the Celtics," he said.

"Boston fans love their sport, so if we can win the Laver Cup anywhere, then Boston, one of the greatest sports cities in the world, is the place to do it."

McEnroe's team, though, will have their work cut out against a European team who have won the three events so far - in Prague 2017, Chicago 2018 and Geneva 2019.

They will again start favourites as they field a team featuring six of the world's top 11 players - Daniil Medvedev (No.2), Stefanos Tsitsipas (3), Alexander Zverev (5), Andrey Rublev (7), Matteo Berrettini (8) and Casper Ruud (11).

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