Federer and Djokovic Will Pair Up for Doubles on Day One of Laver Cup
(September 20, 2018) CHICAGO – The second annual Laver Cup announced their line-ups for day one on Friday, with a big surprise – Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic of Team Europe will be teaming up for doubles in the Night session against Team World’s Jack Soack and Kevin Anderson.
“We have had so many great battles in all the singles courts, and to finally team up together I think is going to be very special for both of us,” Federer said to media on Thursday. “I think we still have to talk over it a little bit exactly maybe either who’s going to take the lead or, you know, how do we play exactly.”
“But we know it’s going to be a tough one. Indoor doubles is always very hard to take charge and dominate, to be quite honest. I think it’s all about intensity for us. We have a great support team here. We are hoping for a really great opening day. It will be very exciting to kick things off in the doubles together. It’s very cool.”
“Obviously, as Roger said,” noted Djokovic, “very, very excited to have the unique experience. We never played doubles together. This is what this competition is all about, you know, bringing us all together.”
So who will play which court?
“I hand it to Roger,” Djokovic said. “He decides.”
“I think I will take the deuce side,” Federer said. “If Novak is okay with that, I will be happy to play on the deuce side.”
The world No. 3 responded to a laughter-filled news conference: “I think I’m okay on the backhand.”
Asked about his doubles opponent on Friday, Jack Sock jokingly said: “Who’s that?”
“Yeah, obviously going to be a legendary team.” Last year at the inaugural event in Prague, Sock was part a team who faced the Federer/Rafael Nadal doubles team. “We got a little bit of it last year.”
“As a half-court specialist, I trust my abilities out there and teaming up with Kevin who has a monstrous serve, great return, good hands,” Sock continued. “Hopefully get a W for the team.”
The rest of the line up for Day 1 of Laver Cup:
Friday, September 21, 2018
Team World vs. Team Europe
Day Session beginning at 1PM Central time
Match 1 Frances Tiafoe vs. Grigor Dimitrov
Match 2 Jack Sock vs. Kyle Edmund
Night Session beginning 7PM Central time
Match 3 Diego Schwartzman vs. David Goffin
Match 4 Keven Anderson/Jack Sock vs. Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic
The event is being held at the United Center, the home of the Chicago Bulls of the NBA and the Blackhawks of the NHL.
Although viewed as an exhibition by many, don’t tell that to American John Isner.
“Honestly, that question really annoys me,” he said. “One-hundred percent serious. This is not an exhibition at all. At all.”
