DownTheTee.com

September 21, 2017 — Like golf’s Ryder Cup? Then you’re sure to get behind The Laver Cup, the newest tennis promotion that pits six of the top men’s European players against the rest of the world. The event honors Rod Laver, the only player who won two calendar Grand Slams twice. 

The 3-day live event from Prague’s O2 Arena begins Friday, September 22, at 7 a.m. EST and runs through Sunday. Tennis Channel will carry all the action. 

Team Europe’s coach, Bjorn Borg, will certainly be enthused with his players that include Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Although Borg has yet to confirm the top two men on the ATP Tour will team up for doubles, that’s the hope. They have never played on the same side of the net and for the same glory. Other team members include Marin Cilic, Alexandr Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Tomas Berdych.

Team World, coached by John McEnroe, has an impressive lineup that features lots of Americans: John Isner, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, Francis Tiafoe, plus Aussie Nick Kyrgios and Canadian teen sensation, Denis Shapovalov. 

To win, one team must accumulate 13 points over two singles and two doubles matches. Each match-win counts as one point on Friday, 2 points on Saturday and 3 points on Sunday. Four matches will be played each day of the competition.