Felix Auger-Aliassime primed for a "very special experience" leading Team World in Vancouver
The Canadian played a major role in helping his squad win the Laver Cup for the first time in five attempts last year and is the first player announced for the 2023 edition.
Canada’s top-ranked player will lead Team World when the Laver Cup takes over Vancouver in September.
World No. 7 Felix Auger-Aliassime will once again suit up for John McEnroe, as he looks to help his captain defeat Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe for a second year running. The 2023 event is set to take place at Rogers Arena from September 22-24, with multi-session hospitality packages going on sale February 6. Multi-session tickets are expected to be made available in early march and individual tickets will be released at a later date.
"Vancouver is such a beautiful city, it’s going to be a very special experience for me," Auger-Aliassime said in a statement. "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."
Last year in London, it was Auger-Aliassime’s performance on the final day that propelled Team World to its first victory in five editions, after he teamed up with Jack Sock to defeat Matteo Berrettini and Andy Murray before upsetting Novak Djokovic to vault his squad from a 4-8 deficit to a 10-8 lead. Frances Tiafoe later clinched the trophy when he saved four match points to stun Stefanos Tsitsipas, but Auger-Aliassime’s teammates were unanimous in dubbing the Montreal native their MVP of the weekend.
"I’m really looking forward to being part of the Laver Cup again, we had an amazing time in London last year. We were able to get the win in London, but that was not easy," said Auger-Aliassime.
Following that effort, Auger-Aliassime maintained his level on indoor hard courts. He swept three titles in three weeks and compiled a 16-match win streak until Holger Rune stopped his run of form in the semifinals of the Paris Masters. The torrid stretch enabled Auger-Aliassime to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time, and he capped the year by leading his nation to its first Davis Cup crown in history.
Could local fans see Auger-Aliassime share the court with Denis Shapovalov in Vancouver? It’s possible. Three spots are awarded based on the ATP rankings that are published following the completion of Wimbledon (July 17, 2023) and three “captains' picks” round out the rosters.