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Félix Auger-Aliassime to help defend Laver Cup title in Vancouver

Montrealer defeated Novak Djokovic to help captain John McEnroe's Team Word to an upset win over Team Europe in last year's competition in London.

Montreal's Félix Auger-Aliassime lifts the trophy as Team World players celebrate their victory over Team Europe in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London on Sept.25, 2022.
Montreal's Félix Auger-Aliassime lifts the trophy as Team World players celebrate their victory over Team Europe in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London on Sept.25, 2022. Photo by GLYN KIRK /AFP via Getty Images

Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime, the No. 7 player in the ATP Tour rankings, is the first player to confirm his participation in the 2023 Laver Cup event that will be held in Vancouver, Sept. 22-24.

Auger-Aliassime defeated Novak Djokovic to help captain John McEnroe’s Team Word to an upset win over Team Europe in last year’s competition in London. It was Team World’s first win in the event, which began in 2017 as the brainchild of tennis legend Roger Federer.

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“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Laver Cup again, we had an amazing time in London last year,” Auger-Aliassime said in a statement. “We were able to get the win in London, but that was not easy. It will make a real difference to have the crowd behind us and I really hope fans come out in big numbers to witness Laver Cup firsthand.”

“Vancouver is such a beautiful city, it’s going to be a very special experience for me,” he added.

Auger-Aliassime swept tennis’s major team events last year, also leading Canada to victories in the ATP Cup in January and the Davis Cup in November.

McEnroe said winning the Laver Cup for the first time in London in 2022 was one of his career highlights.

“The Laver Cup is one of the best things to happen in tennis in the last 20 years,” McEnroe said. “It’s had a huge impact on the sport, and has been a great success.”

“We have some great players coming through on the World side, starting with Félix, who helped us get the win in London,” McEnroe added. “He had a huge season last year and went on a winning streak after the Laver Cup. It’s great to have him back.”

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Laver Cup again, we had an amazing time in London last year,” Félix Auger-Aliassime said in a statement.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of the Laver Cup again, we had an amazing time in London last year,” Félix Auger-Aliassime said in a statement. Photo by PAUL CROCK /AFP via Getty Images

Auger-Aliassime, 22, broke through to win four ATP Tour singles titles in 2022, starting at Rotterdam in February when he overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. At the Laver Cup, he upset Djokovic to put his team in a winning position and then went on to win three consecutive indoor ATP titles at Florence, Antwerp and Basel.

“The Laver Cup was a real confidence booster,” Auger-Aliassime said. “I felt really good about my game at that point and had a whole streak of tournaments afterwards indoors in similar conditions where I felt I could win a lot of matches.”

The top three-ranked players for each team earn a guaranteed invitation based on their ATP singles ranking on the Monday after Wimbledon (July 17, 2023). The remaining three will be captains’ picks and named before the start of the U.S. Open.

The event rotates host cities annually between Europe and the World and will head to Berlin in 2024.

phickey@postmedia.com

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  1. Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime reacts as he plays against Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka during their men's singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 22, 2023. (Photo by Paul CROCK / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

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  2. Montreal's Félix Auger-Aliassime celebrates with trophy after winning his final match against Denmark's Holger Rune at the Swiss Indoors Basel tournament on Oct. 30, 2022.

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