The fourth edition of the Laver Cup should have taken place at TD Garden in Boston between September 25-27, with Roger Federer as the first confirmed player and the leader of Team Europe. The blue squad won all three previous Laver Cups over Team World in Prague, Chicago and Geneva and they will all have to wait until September 24-26, 2021, to embrace the new challenge, with this year’s edition being canceled due to a coronavirus.
After a lot of thinking, the organizers have decided to move the tournament for the next year, waiting for everything to clear up and the Tour to start all over. The world’s greatest pandemic in the last century has taken many lives so far around the globe, causing all the sporting events to get halted and stopping tennis action from the second week of March.
At the moment, no one is sure about the possible restart of the season, with no tennis at least before the second part of July and probably for a more extended period. The other tournaments are giving their best to secure some date in the calendar in September or October, hoping to stage the 2020 edition but with not much enthusiasm as the virus still rages on.
In September last year, the crowd in Geneva had the opportunity to follow another tight contest between the world’s finest stars, with the action going down to the wire on the final day. Roger Federer toppled John Isner in two close sets before Alexander Zverev took down Milos Raonic in another thriller to secure the third title for Team Europe, the dominant squad of the event created to honor the name of one of the greatest players in history.
“Unfortunately, the Laver Cup has to be pushed back a year, but at this stage, it’s the right thing to do for everyone concerned,” Roger Federer said. “Although disappointing, the good news is that TD Garden will still be able to host the event next year and I really look forward to finally playing in Boston for the first time at Laver Cup 2021.”
Roger Federer Adds Another Tournament in 2021 Due to Cancelations This Year
The year 2020 has been chaotic in all sectors of the world amid the coronavirus pandemic. It has eliminated numerous tournaments from the tennis calendar. Soon after the cancellation of the 2021 edition of Laver Cup, World Number four Roger Federer addressed his disappointment.
“It’s unfortunate that the Laver Cup has to be pushed back a year. But at this stage, it’s the right thing to do for everyone concerned,” he stated.
However, after Laver Cup became the latest coronavirus victim, Federer confirmed his presence at Laver Cup 2021, in Boston, USA.
The tournament decided to hold back this year in order to avoid clashes with the rescheduled dates of French Open 2020. The clay-court major is scheduled to take place from September 20 to October 4, 2020 and dates of Laver Cup were falling in the last week of September.
“We know our passionate fans will be disappointed. They have to wait an extra year for the Laver Cup in Boston. But this is the responsible course of action. Necessitated by the emerging calendar conflicts,” Laver Cup Chairman and CEO of TEAM8 Tony Godsick said.
2021 calendar of Roger Federer
Previously, right after the cancellation Wimbledon 2020, Federer was ‘devastated’ upon learning the news, but right back that he confirmed his participation at The Championships 2021.
Since 1999 Federer never missed playing Wimbledon. No matter how his fitness/health was, he always showed up for the grass-court major. Unfortunately this year, the prestigious tournament on the tennis tour will not be held owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, the Swiss ace has been scheduled to play Halle Open 2021 in Germany. As of now, the grass-court swing and Laver Cup are part of Federer’s 2021 calendar.
Most likely Australian Open and US Open 2021 will be there on his list. If he stays fit and healthy throughout the year 2021, the Swiss maestro might as well play some Masters 1000 events and also the French Open.
