Francisco Cerundolo helped Team World take its first step towards a third consecutive Laver Cup title on Friday afternoon. Team Europe's Stefanos Tsitsipas then promptly issued a swift reminder of the challenge facing the Argentine and his teammates this weekend in Berlin.

The No. 31 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Cerundolo upset Casper Ruud in the opening match of the 2024 edition of the teams event. He triumphed 6-4, 6-4 after 97 minutes to take a 4-3 lead in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with the World No. 9.

“I’m super happy. I had the responsibility to go there and play the first match. I knew it was going to be tough,” said Cerundolo in his post-match press conference. “Casper is a great player. We played many times, so I knew how he was going to play, and I think I did a really good job from the beginning to the end.

“I was really there, focused, and super happy to get my second win in Laver Cup and first this year.”

Cerundolo outhit Ruud by 16 winners to 11 to avenge his recent defeat to the Norwegian at the Paris Olympics. The Argentine adjusted more quickly to the indoor conditions at Uber Arena than Ruud, who struggled with the consistency of his groundstrokes, to give Team World and its captain John McEnroe the perfect start in Berlin.

“We have seen it a couple of times, where it can come down on the last day to a point or two, so every point is very important,” said Team World Vice-captain Patrick McEnroe. “Especially, I think, the first match, it's good to get some momentum.”

If Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg was after a fast response, he certainly got one from Tsitsipas. The Greek raced to a 6-1, 6-4 win against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second match of the afternoon session.

Tsitsipas set the tone on the opening point of the match, when he pushed Kokkinakis wide with an arrowed backhand before moving in to put away an emphatic volley. The World No. 12 barely looked back from there, and completed his win having broken his Australian opponent’s serve three times in his 81-minute win.

Looking sharp 💪@steftsitsipas gets the point for Team Europe with a 6-1 6-4 triumph over Kokkinakis.@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/obPaeZAv72

With one point on offer for each win on Day 1, that left the score between Team Europe and Team World at 1-1 heading into Friday evening’s session, when Grigor Dimitrov will take on Alejandro Tabilo, before home favourite Alexander Zverev and Laver Cup debutant Carlos Alcaraz meet Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton in the opening doubles clash of the weekend.

The Business of Tennis

The Laver Cup and the ATP have announced a five-year extension to their partnership. This extension comes as the Laver Cup enters its seventh edition in Berlin.

The Laver Cup, where top players from Europe take on their counterparts from the rest of the World, will continue to benefit from the ATP’s global reach, marketing services, including press and social media, and operational support, including officials and physios.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the ATP,” said Tony Godsick, Laver Cup Chairman and CEO of TEAM8.

“Their recognition validates the Laver Cup vision, which is to bring together the world’s top players – rivals year-round – as teammates, to celebrate and honor the legendary Rod Laver and his compatriots, while growing interest in this wonderful sport at new destinations around the world.”

“The Laver Cup has quickly established itself as a unique highlight of our season,” added ATP Chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi.

“The passionate reception it receives from both the players and fans at every city it visits speaks volumes and we truly value the great potential Laver Cup has to attract new fans around the globe. We are delighted to be supporting its continued growth.’

The partnership between the Laver Cup and the ATP marks a key moment for the business of tennis. John McEnroe and Tony Godsick, both prominent figures in the sport, have expressed their opinions on the current state of the tennis business.

While McEnroe believes that the players need to be more involved in the business side of the sport, Godsick believes that the business of tennis is doing really well.

“The game is not accessible enough, not affordable enough yet,” McEnroe has said. “And final thing, at some point in the majors, the players have to be in partnered with those events. I totally disagree with the business side of that right now. We’re getting bamboozled as we’ve been all through the years even though there is more money then there has ever been. There needs to be a partnership like there is in the NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.”

McEnroe believes that the players need to have more say in the business of tennis and that they should be more involved in the decision-making process. He also believes that the players need to be more compensated for their participation in the major tournaments.

“The players have an association, but they don’t have a union. So we need to do a lot better. Cause the sport is worldwide, players are spread out all over the world, it’s tough for us to agree on a lot of things. And in order to get what we want … You probably need to boycott a Major or two, in truth. That’s the only way to show these guys we mean business.”

“I actual think the business of tennis is doing really well. … the U.S. Open just had a million people come through their gates, they just did a new media deal with ESPN that was reported to be over $2B over a long term deal. You see all these new brands coming into tennis you know to compete with Nike and Adidas. You got New Balance that’s killing it. You got ON that’s killing it, you got Hugo Boss coming into the business. The fashion world is really loving tennis. And then you look at the stars. I mean Taylor Swift was out at the U.S. Open.”

Godsick believes that the business of tennis is in a good place and that the sport is growing. He points to the success of the U.S. Open, the new media deal with ESPN, and the influx of new brands into the sport as evidence of this growth.

“Certainly sitting down at the table and having dialogue. Look the Grand Slams, I heard a stat recently that they make 80% of the revenue, the four slams in the sport of tennis. So obviously they are doing very well. The players need to be compensated more. … So everyone needs to sit down at the table and figure out how we move this sport forward (“Squawk Box”, CNBC, 9/19).”

The Laver Cup and the ATP have both recognized the value of partnering together to grow the sport of tennis, and the extension of their agreement is a testament to that. The Laver Cup, a unique team event that pits Europe against the rest of the world, offers a fresh and exciting perspective on the sport and is becoming increasingly popular.

The Future of the Laver Cup

This year marks the final appearance of legendary Laver Cup captains and former rivals Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, who have served as Team Europe and Team World captains, respectively, since the tournament’s inaugural year in 2017.

“The Laver Cup has been a huge success, and I’ve been honored to be part of it from the beginning,” said Borg as he reflected on his involvement with the event.

“The values this event stands for—commitment to excellence, a focus on the team, respect for the opponent, and a love for the game—are things we see time and again throughout the competition. It’s been a privilege to lead such a talented group of players in this iconic competition.”

“What the Laver Cup has achieved in just a few years is incredible,” McEnroe added. “This event captures the essence of what tennis is all about: competition, passion, innovation and sportsmanship. I’ve enjoyed every moment as captain of Team World, and I can’t wait to see how the Laver Cup continues to inspire players and fans alike in the future.”

The Laver Cup and the ATP’s extended partnership signals a bright future for the event. The tournament, which has become one of the most anticipated events on the tennis calendar, is positioned to continue growing its international presence and inspire fans around the globe. The focus on teamwork and sportsmanship, coupled with the thrilling competition, has set the stage for a unique and dynamic celebration of the sport.

The Players and Their Impact on the Laver Cup

The Laver Cup has attracted many of the biggest names in tennis. This year’s roster features several young stars and veterans.

The tournament has provided a platform for players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune to showcase their talents. These young players are already making their mark on the sport, and the Laver Cup has given them a chance to play alongside some of their idols.

The event has also brought together legendary players such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who have both competed in the past and have been instrumental in the success of the Laver Cup.

The Laver Cup and its Future

The Laver Cup has quickly become one of the most exciting events on the tennis calendar. The tournament has a unique format that combines the thrill of team competition with the individual brilliance of the world’s best players. The event has also been successful in attracting new fans to the sport and expanding its global reach.

With the extended partnership between the Laver Cup and the ATP, the tournament is well-positioned to continue its growth in the coming years. The Laver Cup has the potential to become a truly global phenomenon, and its impact on the sport of tennis is only just beginning to be felt.