In creating the Laver Cup, Federer harmed tennis": analysis by a columnist on the show Sans Filet

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Arthur Millot

le 16/09/2025 à 08h26

2 min to read

Federer Wawrinka

Roger Federer, already a living legend of tennis by 2017, conceived the Laver Cup, an ambitious exhibition pitting Europe against the rest of the world. Organized over three days with a polished setting, international stars, and a show designed for cameras, emotion, and the public.

The project was clear: renew the way team tennis is presented, offering a more condensed and visually attractive format with highlights from the first day. With Federer, Nadal, and top-level players like Zverev or Thiem, the event immediately became prestigious.

On the other hand, the Davis Cup, founded in 1900, is the pillar of national team tennis: patriotism, long battles, rematches, national spirit. However, with the Laver Cup, many perceive it has lost some of its aura. The old format (several weekends throughout the year) seems less appealing to players, less visible to sponsors and the public.

So, with this initiative, many wonder if Federer has buried the Davis Cup?

An opinion shared by "Service Volée," a columnist on the show Sans Filet broadcast on Winamax:

"We are in 2017, the Davis Cup is dying, the Big 3, including Rafa and Novak who are entering their thirties, will prioritize this competition less in favor of the Grand Slams. And what is done at this point? Federer creates the Laver Cup. A format that will absorb all the biggest names in an exhibition in a slot more reserved for the Davis Cup.

So Federer, as gigantic as he is, has harmed tennis by doing this. The Davis Cup, which is the very essence of this sport, of our attachment to the sport because it was truly a very special competition. He also often played the relegation matches with Switzerland, then committed for a few years to try to win it with Stan (Wawrinka). But what Federer did, I say this with my heart, but for me, he really harmed tennis.