(Vancouver) Hosting the Laver Cup offers a chance to develop and showcase tennis in Canada, say Félix Auger-Aliassime and Milos Raonic.
Auger-Aliassime is a member of the World Team at the tournament, which begins in Vancouver on Friday, while Raonic will act as an injury replacement.
“It’s not a city like Montreal or Toronto, where we organize a huge tennis tournament every year,” Auger-Aliassime said during a press briefing before the competition. In recent years, there’s been a bit of a buzz around Canadian tennis in general and I think it’s great to organize this kind of event here and see all these great players playing in Vancouver. »
Raonic last played in Vancouver in 2012, in the Davis Cup at the University of British Columbia. He said the fact that the city has the chance to host a major international tournament shows the evolution of tennis in the country.
“I think it’s a big deal,” he insisted. The last time I played here was the Davis Cup in front of 2,500 people. The fact that the city is being considered for such an international event…to think that Vancouver is a place that should host it says a lot about Canadian tennis and the passion for tennis across Canada. »
Raonic has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and has contemplated retirement, but said he is happy to be involved with Team World.
“Having spent two years away from tennis, it’s a long time and it’s nice to be back,” he stressed.
Auger-Aliassime will face Gaël Monfils in the third match of the tournament on Friday.
“It was three years ago when I faced him. He was the fastest player I had played against, noted the Quebecer about his opponent. His defensive skill and court coverage was something I had never seen before.
“This is of course its great quality. Even today, at his age and at the end of his career, his coverage and the way he’s able to make you play that extra shot and force you to make a mistake, he’s won a lot of games like That. »
The 37-year-old Monfils suggested he was looking forward to playing against someone he’s known for a while.
” It’s gonna be fun. I’ve known Félix for a long time, so it’s going to be cool,” said Monfils.
Members of Team Europe at the Laver Cup say they are seeking redemption after losing the tournament for the first time last year in London.
Team Europe won four of the five performances of the event. Last year’s loss also marked Swiss legend Roger Federer’s final competitive match.
PHOTO KIN CHEUNG, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal last year at the Laver Cup
Captain Bjorn Borg said he and his players hated losing and that last year’s failure left its mark on them.
The former Swedish tennis great said he and co-captain Thomas Enqvist were training players who would push to regain the title at this tournament.
“We have six great players here. They are very competitive. Even me and Thomas hate to lose, we love to win. It’s the same thing with these guys,” he said.
The competition will begin on Friday when Frenchman Arthur Fils will cross swords with American Ben Shelton.
This will be Son’s first appearance at the Laver Cup. He was a late addition to replace Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world’s fifth-ranked player, who withdrew due to injury.
At 19 and ranked 44e in the world, Son hopes his Laver Cup debut goes better than his Davis Cup debut. He then suffered a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss at the hands of Briton Daniel Evans.