‘I am in a sarong...’: Federer’s surprise call to Noah for the Laver Cup
Yannick Noah admits: he approaches his mission alongside Alcaraz, Zverev, or Rune with humility. A new adventure initiated by an unexpected call from Federer.
Eight editions after its creation, the Laver Cup is renewing its captains. Björn Borg exits for Team Europe and John McEnroe for Team World, leaving the place to Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi.
A change aimed at rekindling interest in this exhibition, deprived of its main stars in Team World this year (Shelton, Tiafoe, and Paul) as well as the Big 3 who carried the first editions.
While speaking on RMC Sport, Noah recounted how his appointment came about, with a call out of nowhere from Roger Federer:
‘It’s his idea. One day, I was in Cameroon, at home. There had been a signal for only five minutes. The phone rings and it's Roger who says to me: “Do you want to be captain for the Laver Cup?” I replied: “I am in a sarong; I don’t have TV.”
He insisted. Of course, I accepted. Once I hung up, I thought to myself: “Coaching these guys, that’s not nothing.” I’m not coming thinking: “It’s me Yannick, you’re going to see what you’re going to see.” I come in all humility, I've got a slight nervousness still.’
The last French winner at Roland-Garros (1983) will be the captain this weekend of a certain Carlos Alcaraz, but also Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, and Flavio Cobolli.
