Andre Agassi took over the Team World Laver Cup captaincy from John McEnroe in 2025.
The eight-time Grand Slam winner will look to guide Team World to a rare victory over their European rivals at the 2025 Laver Cup.
Team World currently trails Team Europe 2-5 in the head-to-head, but did win two of the last three under McEnroe’s leadership.
As fans argue over the legitimacy of the Laver Cup and its status as an exhibition event, some questioned how seriously Agassi would take his role as captain.
Answering those questions, Andy Roddick has now shared what Agassi told him earlier this week.
Andy Roddick says Andre Agassi asked to cut their interview short so he wouldn’t miss practice
Agassi made an appearance on Roddick’s ‘Served’ podcast ahead of the Laver Cup, previewing his team’s chances at the event.
However, he wasn’t there as long as he had originally planned to be, as Roddick revealed on the latest episode.
“Yesterday, even before hand, he was texting me, ‘Dude, I love you, you’re my guy, but I’m going to be in and out because I don’t want to miss a ball of my team’s practice, so this is going to be shorter than we discussed, I’m sorry about that,” said Roddick.
The 2003 US Open champion proceeded to explain just how committed Agassi is to the Laver Cup.
“Andre [Agassi] rarely says or does anything without focus; he is not the easiest to get a yes out of. He thinks about things; he would have been offered this job. My guess is that he would have thought about it, given it time, and gone back and forth,” said Roddick.
“You could rightfully accuse him of overthinking sometimes, but once he is in, you’re getting the full Andre.
“He’s focused, he’s into it. If you’re his north star, you’re going to benefit from it.
“Andre Agassi will not spare any details. I cannot wait to hear those conversations.”
Roddick’s co-host Jon Wertheim agreed, as he suggested what Agassi’s advice to his players on Team World might sound like.
“This is not someone who’s just trafficking in cliches and moving on, this is not going to be, ‘Keep fighting, you’re doing great, keep your focus, go get them,'” he said.
“This is going to be substantive tennis talk, which is going to be great to see.”
Agassi was fully committed on day one of the Laver Cup, although things didn’t quite go to plan for his team.
Andre Agassi and Team World trail 3-1 after day one of the Laver Cup
Kicking things off with a singles tie, Reilly Opelka represented Team World against Team Europe’s Casper Ruud.
The American gave it his all but couldn’t keep up with the impressive Norwegian, as Ruud won in straight sets 6-4, 7-6.
It was then the turn of another big-serving American to step up for Team World, as Alex Michelsen took on Czech youngster Jakub Mensik.
Michelsen was nervous throughout the opening set, which he lost 1-6, before bouncing back in the second.
Breaking back late on, Michelsen won the second, 7-6 [7-3], to take the match to a ten-point tiebreaker.
He couldn’t quite get over the line, however, losing [10-8] to Mensik, as Team Europe moved into a 2-0 lead.
It was in the third match that Agassi finally secured his first win as Team World captain, when Brazil’s Joao Fonseca defeated Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
Looking to finish the day level at 2-2, Agassi sent Michelsen back out alongside Taylor Fritz to take on Mensik and Carlos Alcaraz in doubles.
They pushed the Europeans close but were unable to get the job done, as Fritz and Michelsen lost to Alcaraz and Mensik, 6-7, 4-6.
Down 3-1, Agassi will be hoping for a better showing from his players on day two, when each win is worth two points.
Day two line-up
- 1. Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
- 2. Holger Rune vs Francisco Cerundolo
- 3. Carlos Alcaraz vs Taylor Fritz
- 4. Holger Rune/Casper Ruud vs Alex de Minaur/Alex Michelsen
Team World will rely on Alex de Minaur, Francisco Cerundolo, Fritz, and Michelsen to pick up points on day two.
Only time will tell if Team World can get back on terms with Team Europe, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action as the Laver Cup continues on Saturday, September 20.
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