The Laver Cup 2021 will be held this weekend at Boston’s TD Garden. The fourth edition of this three-day competition between Team World and Team Europe can be the most leveled so far, after the Big 3 –Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic-isn’t competing this year.
However, that doesn’t mean that fans are not excited for this new edition. With US Open 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev and other power names like Alexander Zverev, Olympic champion, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, Nick Kyrgios or John Isner, there’s plenty of talent to watch.
Still the absence of the Big 3 can be a challenge for the competition, despite its friendly format to fans with nine singles matches and three doubles. Here, check out why Federer, Nadal and Djokovic won’t be in the tournament this year.
Laver Cup 2021: Federer, Nadal and Djokovic miss the competition
Roger Federer, who helped create the competition with his agency Team8, will miss the Laver Cup for the first time. The Swiss underwent a third knee surgery this summer, as he explained in August through social media. Fortunately, the eight time Wimbledon champion has said that he’s doing very well in rehab.
“I’m doing very well; the rehab is progressing step by step,” Federer said at an event in Zurich with sponsors Mercedes-Benz. “The worst is behind me. I’m looking forward to everything that happens to me to come,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal is also out due to an injury in his foot. The Spaniard suffers from the Muller-Weiss syndrome and he said he won’t be competing for the rest of the year to find the right treatment. Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, is taking some time off after competing in the fourth majors and almost winning the calendar Grand Slam.