Laver Cup to be played on a unique surface with the approval of Federer

The 38-year-old is excited about the tournament which will be played on a black court.

The Laver Cup is happening this weekend at the Palexpo indoor court in Geneva, Switzerland. The tournament has been successful since it began in 2017 and features the best tennis players in the world. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the star attractions at the event as well as next-generation players such as Nick Kyrgios. The event will be played on a black court, a unique playing surface which will give the event a different feel from normal tennis tournaments.

Why the dark courts

The court is designed for the Laver Cup and has been tested before approval for use at the event. It favors a medium to fast pace of play and the ball bounces higher on the court. Tall, less athletic players will find the court easier to play on. It will be interesting to see how players who rely on their athleticism like Federer, perform on the playing surface. The court is set to give spectators a unique watching experience as the tennis ball bounces of the black surface. The Laver Cup is played at an indoor arena and players can sit on the sidelines cheering for their teammates as they play on the court. This gives the cup a great atmosphere and fans are able to see their favorite players in a different environment compared to other tennis tournaments.

Federer approves the unique court

Named after Australian legend Rod Laver, the cup was first held in Prague in 2017. The tournament was started as a way to honor former tennis legends. This year the ATP added the tournament to its tour but no ranking points can be earned from participating in the cup. Federer has been an advocate for the tournament and was involved in coming up with the idea for the format of the tournament. The 38-year-old is pleased with how the tournament has improved over the last three years, giving fans innovations such as the black court.

Speaking before the tournament began, Federer said, “The black court is the centerpiece of a really cool, contemporary look overall that is such a big part of how people identify with the Laver Cup.”

The Swiss played on Friday in doubles together with Alexander Zverev, defeating Denis Shapovalov and Jack Sock. Team Europe has won the cup in for the last two years, with the current world number three playing in both victories.

Roger Federer’s ranking and performance in 2019

Roger Federer Stats info

Ranked no.3, Federer played his last match on the 3rd of September when he lost to Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-2 in the quarter in U.S. Open.

This year the Swiss has a 43-7 win-loss record. Federer conquered 3 titles in 2019 in Dubai, in Miami and in Halle. Federer was the finalist in Indian Wells and in Wimbledon.

Roger Federer

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