Tim Henman recollects being impressed by the Laver Cup the primary time he attended, which was for Roger Federer’s farewell look earlier than retiring in 2022. So Henman, a six-time Grand Slam semifinalist, was keen to just accept the supply when he was invited to grow to be a vice captain for Crew Europe at this 12 months’s version.
Henman’s position through the matches scheduled for Sept. 19-21 in San Francisco was introduced Tuesday.
He’ll work alongside new Crew Europe captain Yannick Noah; Crew World is led by captain Andre Agassi and vice captain Pat Rafter. Noah is changing Bjorn Borg, and Agassi is changing John McEnroe.
“I used to be simply blown away by the magnitude, the supply, of the occasion,” mentioned Henman, who reached No. 4 within the ATP rankings and made it to the ultimate 4 at Wimbledon 4 instances and on the U.S. Open and French Open as soon as apiece earlier than leaving the tour in 2007.
“After which witnessing the perfect gamers on the earth, who’re particular person athletes coming collectively as components of groups. … After which the depth of the competitors. I simply thought it was completely incredible,” Henman mentioned. “I am a sports activities fanatic, and I need to see the perfect gamers taking part in towards one another – and this positively ticks that field whenever you take a look at the 2 groups.”
He works as a TV analyst for tennis broadcasts and has been a captain for Britain within the United Cup crew competitors for ladies and men.
Thus far, Crew Europe’s Laver Cup roster contains four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and three-time main finalist Alexander Zverev of Germany. The primary two gamers named to Crew World are Individuals Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.
Henman, who’s taking up the vice captain position from Thomas Enqvist, would like to see fellow Briton Jack Draper be part of Crew Europe.
Draper, a 23-year-old left-hander, not too long ago broke into the highest 10 within the ATP rankings for the primary time and received his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, California.
“I spoke to his brother, Ben, who’s an excellent good friend of mine, … at Indian Wells, and what he went on to realize there was incredible. I might love – as Yannick Noah would – Jack to be a part of Crew Europe in San Francisco,” Henman mentioned. “I shall be making an attempt to make use of my powers of persuasion, that’s for positive.”
The Laver Cup is an annual occasion based by Federer’s administration firm and first held in 2017.