Laver Cup: Berrettini, Paul named as alternatives for the tournament. Courtesy: Reuters
HIGHLIGHTS
- Matteo Berrettini has joined Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe
- Tommy Paul has been picked by John McEnroe’s Team World
- The Laver Cup will start on September 23
World No.15 Matteo Berrettini, on Sunday, September 18, was named as an alternative for the upcoming edition of the Laver Cup to take place at The O2 from September 23 to 25.
The 26-year-old Berrettini has had a decent season despite undergoing surgery after sustaining an injury to his right hand. The Young Turk won back-to-back titles at Stuttgart and Queen’s, but couldn’t take part in Wimbledon 2022 after testing positive for Covid-19.
However, he did fairly well in the US Open at Flushing Meadows where he bowed out in the quarterfinal after losing to eventual runner-up Casper Ruud in straight sets.
Berrettini also knocked three-time Grand Slam champion, Andy Murray, out of the competition with a victory in four sets in the third round.
Back in 2021, Berrettini plied his trade for the first time for Team Europe in the Laver Cup in Boston. Back then, he was involved in the longest match in the history of the championship, lasting as long as two hours and 52 minutes.
Team Europe, captained by the legendary Bjorn Borg, comprises of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ruud, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Thomas Enqvist is the vice-captain of the team.
The Laver Cup will also be the final ATP event for the 41-year-old Federer, who decided to call it a day from the sport earlier this week.
America’s Tommy Paul, in the meantime, joined John McEnroe’s Team World as an alternative as well. Earlier in September, he achieved a career-high ranking of No.29 and also defeated Alexander Zverev and current World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz.
Paul and Berrettini will only take part in the Laver Cup if any of their teams’ players get injured or withdraw from the tournament.
