Federer excited for second annual Laver Cup

CHICAGO–Roger Federer, the driving force behind the Laver Cup, is ready to roll for the second annual exhibition event.

The Swiss thrilled fans and teammates on Wednesday by running around Chicago promoting the event. He got really into working on his selfie game during a photoshoot with both teams along the river.

He also greeted ball kids at Pritzker Pavilion, where the official team welcome took place.

"We know this is a sports-crazy city," Federer said to the crowd, some wearing vibrant red-and-white Swiss hats. "We are very thrilled to be here."

Federer came up with the Laver Cup as a way to honor Rod Laver, one of the greatest in history, while uniting players that don't normally get to play together. He'll be suiting up alongside rival Novak Djokovic this weekend.

Team Europe will have a lot of support thanks to star power in Federer and Djokovic, but don't count Team World out. Americans Frances Tiafoe, Jack Sock and John Isner should get plenty of love, while Kevin Anderson went to college not too far from Chicago at the University of Illinois.

Most of the players are making their Laver Cup debut, while returning stars Federer, Sock, Zverev, Tiafoe, Isner and Nick Kyrgios will feel like veterans.

"There were a lot of key moments last year that I didn't know where going to happen so it really exceeded all my expectations," Federer said. "This year I know more so what's going to happen. But yet I think we have different characters on the team, it's going to be a different week which is super exciting."

All of the action begins on Friday at 2 p.m. Eastern.