Taylor Fritz of the U.S., left, shakes hands with Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. after Fritz defeated him in their final match of the Japan Open tennis championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. Fritz and Tiafoe will look to defend Team World's title at the Laver Cup in Vancouver this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Hiro Komae
Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will look to defend Team World’s title at the Laver Cup in Vancouver this year.
The top-ranked Americans join Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime on John McEnroe’s six-man team. All three players played in last year’s Laver Cup in London, where Team World beat Team Europe in Roger Federer’s final appearance to win the annual tournament.
The 22-year-old Auger-Aliassime was the first player named to captain McEnroe’s team this February.
Fritz and Tiafoe are ranked 10th and 12th in the world in singles play, respectively. Montreal’s Auger-Alissime is ranked ninth.
The Laver Cup will be held Sept. 22-24 in Vancouver and will see six of the top men’s players from across Europe battle six of the top players from around the world.
The top-three ranked players from each team as of the Monday after Wimbledon are guaranteed an invitation to play, while the remaining three are captains’ picks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2023.
