Team Europe's Zverev and Team World's Agassi defend 'spectacular' Laver Cup

[p]In the midst of the packed tennis calendar, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Zverev[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fritz-taylor/UH09iaZ6/"]Taylor Fritz[/a] and rising stars [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a] are among the stars appearing in the exhibition at the O2 Arena from Friday to Sunday.[/p][p]The Laver Cup is a three-day tournament on hard courts, pitting players from Europe against opponents from the rest of the world in a rare team event in a sport dominated by singles competition.[/p][p]Although the Davis Cup is well established as the number one team competition in tennis, the Laver Cup was launched in 2017 as the brainchild of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/federer-roger/GrsQDFC0/"]Roger Federer[/a] and Tennis Australia.[/p][p]The plan was to emulate the drama of golf's Ryder Cup - which featured teams from the United States and Europe.[/p][p]Unlike the Ryder Cup, the Laver Cup has yet to capture the imagination of the sporting public.[/p][embed guid="42e32323-be7c-4b0d-8a1d-0293ad4c776d" url="https://x.com/LaverCup/status/2102879402409279974?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]There are also concerns about cramming another tournament in the already hectic schedule for players at risk of burnout.[/p][p]But to hear two-time major winner Zverev, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/agassi-andre/dpmh3fNO/"]Agassi[/a], who is serving as captain of Team World, speak with such conviction about the Laver Cup tells a different story.[/p][p]"[b]It's really exciting. The arena is spectacular. It is one of the great events of the year,[/b]" Agassi told reporters in London on Wednesday.[/p][p]Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, added: "[b]All these players are out there, maybe on some level trying to impress each other.[/b][/p][p]"[b]The competition and intensity is always high.[/b]"[/p][h2]'I try to be loyal'[/h2][p]World number two Zverev could have been forgiven for opting out of the Laver Cup after winning the US Open on September 13 to cap a golden year.[/p][p]The 29-year-old German, who had never won a major until this year, wanted to show solidarity with an event that has supported him in the past.[/p][p]"[b]The Laver Cup is something I always try to play. I am a person that values loyalty quite a lot and the event has been loyal to me. I try to be loyal to them,[/b]" said Zverev, who will be with seven-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz on Team Europe.[/p][p]"[b]I enjoy being here. I enjoy being among these team-mates, great guys. I hope to have a great week.[/b]"[/p][p]Just four years ago, Britain's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fery-arthur/SKxbA6KA/"]Arthur Fery[/a] was in the stands at the O2 watching [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] in the Laver Cup and now he is part of the show himself.[/p][p]Fery is an alternate for Team Europe - on standby to compete if any players are ruled out - and his presence at the event is the latest milestone in his remarkable rise.[/p][p]The 24-year-old burst onto the scene with a remarkable run to the Wimbledon semi-finals as a wildcard in July.[/p][p]"[b]Really pleased to be here. I've had a really good year. It's something that has come with the good results,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]It's amazing to be around all these tennis greats. It's going to be great to be around those guys here. Spend some time with them and pick their brains.[/b][/p][p]"[b]It's all a little surreal obviously. I am taking the positives out of it and trying to feel like I belong here,[/b]" he said.[/p]