World No. 2 Casper Ruud expects the London crowd to absolutely erupt when Roger Federer enters the court at the Laver Cup. Last year in Boston, Ruud made his Laver Cup debut. Ruud, 23, kicked off action at last year’s Laver Cup when he faced Reilly Opelka in the opening match.
Federer didn’t play at the Laver Cup last year, but he was in attendance. After the announcer introduced Federer, the crowd erupted and Ruud was amazed by the reaction Federer drew. Federer, 41, is set to retire from tennis after this week’s Laver Cup in London.
“I was playing the first match of the whole Laver Cup against Opelka,” Ruud told the Laver Cup website. “It was the first time they showed Roger on the big screen in TD Garden in Boston, and the whole crowd erupted like I never heard before, so I can only imagine what it will be like when he’s on the team and when he will enter the court”.
Ruud is a part of a star-studded Team Europe
Ruud is set to be teammates on Team Europe with Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Ruud grew up watching the Big Four and now he has a chance to be on the same team with them.
“It’s going to be so special this year, having the biggest four tennis players in my childhood,” Ruud added. “It’s going to be an honor. Probably going to be a bit nervous when I’m out there playing in front of them, but I’ll do my best and I’m very happy to be able to represent Europe for this year’s Laver Cup in front of a crowd full of cheerful fans, and a European bench of legends”.
Ruud and company will be looking to help Team Europe keep its perfect record against Team World. Previously, Team Europe won each of the four meetings versus Team World.
