The Laver Cup has divided opinion among fans and players ever since its inaugural edition back in 2017.
Co-created by Roger Federer, the annual team event is essentially tennis’ version of the Ryder Cup golf tournament.
Two sides, Team Europe and Team World, face off for three days in a series of singles and doubles matches, with a prize pot of $1.5 million up for grabs.
Despite its awkward placement in the calendar, the Laver Cup has attracted the world’s very best players every year since debuting.
But after eight editions, Federer’s brainchild still can’t shake the nasty label of ‘exhibition’.
Gael Monfils’ Laver Cup argument with Felix Auger-Aliassime
While plenty of effort has gone into marketing the Laver Cup as a competitive event, many still view it as an exhibition, as it offers no ranking points.
Some don’t hold that opinion, though, and that divisiveness was on full display at the 2023 Laver Cup during a match between Team Europe’s Gael Monfils and Felix Auger-Aliassime of Team World.
Things got heated between the two during a changeover as they exchanged words angrily on the sidelines in French.
Monfils then sat down and told his team: “If I don’t want to play a tournament, I don’t play it. They told me I can be free. I’m here to have fun.”
Auger-Aliassime’s attitude was clearly quite the opposite, though, as he turned to his teammate Ben Shelton and asked: “What have the people that brought him here told him?”
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Reacting to the altercation in a post on X, former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios said: “And this is the beauty of it!
“You see the contrast in players, personality and game styles… I’ve been around FAA; he is one of the most professional players ever.
“I remember him taking notes on the sideline one year, then you have La monf… entertainer… epic. Let’s go!”
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s reaction after the match
After beating Monfils, Auger-Aliassime was asked if he thinks the Laver Cup should be viewed as an exhibition.
He replied: “At the end of the day, the goal is to get through and win.
“I take all matches seriously and want to compete, win and have fun doing it. It’s competition. Things got a little bit heated in the moment, with tension.
“I think the Laver Cup has the potential to be taken very seriously, not just now but also in the future.
“We’re just taking this seriously, and things got heated for a couple of games.”
The 2026 Laver Cup will start on the 25th of September.
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