An Enduring Legacy: In His Final Laver Cup, Bjorn Borg Captains Carlos Alcaraz
Geneva, 18 September 2024 – Six of Europe’s best tennis players and six of their counterparts from the rest of the world will gather in Berlin this week to contest the 2024 Laver Cup from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September. This unique men’s team competition has delivered spectacular and emotional scenes on court, with this year marking a significant moment in its history. The 11-time Grand Slam® champion Bjorn Borg will captain Team Europe for the final time, leading fellow Rolex Testimonee Carlos Alcaraz in his Laver Cup debut.
Having recently joined Borg in becoming one of only six men to achieve the Roland-Garros-Wimbledon title double, Alcaraz says:
“It is really exciting to know that I will be part of the same team as Bjorn Borg and be captained by a legend of the sport. He is a great champion who took the game to a new level. It will be amazing to learn from him and compete together for Team Europe. I’m looking forward to having my opponents as teammates for once – it’s what makes the Laver Cup so special.”
As its Founding Partner, Rolex supports the Laver Cup’s desire to honour tennis history and perpetuate the legacy of some of the game’s greatest players. Here, four generations convene in the ultimate tennis locker room. Rivals-turned-friends are reunited, legends share expertise with the next generation and, above all, teammates come together to celebrate their passion for the game. Borg has been at the helm of Team Europe since the inaugural event in 2017, guiding several Rolex Testimonees, including Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem, and Stéfanos Tsitsipás, to victory in the first four editions. Borg says:
“This year will be my last Laver Cup, but to have been a part of it since the beginning has been fantastic. For me, the event is the most important time of the year, every year, and it always will be. I’m so very proud to be the captain of Team Europe and to lead so many impressive players who are at the peak of their game. I’m looking forward to Berlin and most of all I hope we win the cup back.”
Testament to another remarkable tennis legacy, the event was named after Rod Laver, the only player to have won all four Grand Slam® singles titles in the same calendar year, a feat he achieved twice; as an amateur in 1962, and as a professional, unmatched to this day in 1969. His name represents the pursuit of excellence in an unparalleled environment. For Borg, this is what makes the Laver Cup special. He adds:
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the dynamic within the team. Even though it’s a serious competition, all the players and captains have a lot of fun together – they tell stories, I might even tell a few stories, too. Seeing the Rolex crown when I go to these exceptional events makes me extremely proud. I feel very honoured and happy that I’m part of the Rolex family, and it feels like I’m still part of the tournaments because of this relationship.”
The upcoming Laver Cup promises thrilling competition and camaraderie as Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Stefanos Tsitsipas join Alcaraz in action at the Uber Arena in the German capital. Whether Team Europe reclaims the trophy, or Team World secures a third successive victory, the 2024 edition represents an exciting new chapter in this captivating event.
