Federer helps unveil first-ever Laver Cup trophy

While the first edition of the Laver Cup won’t officially start until September 22, Roger Federer, Rod Laver and John McEnroe took some time at the year’s third major to reveal what is literally and figuratively a big part of the inaugural event—the trophy.

Federer will first look to win a record 19th major at the All England Club, but he's already excited about this new venture.

The event has made a statement with its talent—which includes top players such as Federer and Rafael Nadal with McEnroe and Bjorn Borg acting as captains. And this trophy is really something else. Just take a look at the size of the cup next to its namesake, Laver, who won a record 200 singles titles as a player.

Laver is also the only man in history to win two calendar-year Grand Slams.

While Laver is in awe that the event—spearheaded by Federer and his team—carries his name, he certainly invested in it as well. Laver donated his United States Professional Tennis Championship trophy to be melted down and used in the creation of the Laver Cup. That trophy dates back 40 years (the last USPTC was played before the Open Era in 1967).

“I think the trophy looks beautiful,” Federer said. “I think it’s great-looking. It’s got a good size that all six players and the captain and coach maybe have to lift it up all together.”

Now that some of the biggest names in tennis have supported the new event and participants have marketed it across the world, it is time to see how the Laver Cup will fare, especially since news broke of changes occurring with the ITF’s team events, the Davis Cup and Fed Cup.

The Laver Cup is a male-only event in which a European and World team each have six players. Four competitors on each squad are decided by the rankings the week after Wimbledon, while the other two are captain’s picks to be announced on the Monday after the US Open.

It has already been decided, however, that Federer, Nadal and Dominic Thiem will play for Team Europe, while Milos Raonic will lead Team World, which has added John Isner.

Federer is a natural choice as a Davis Cup champion in 2015, and a patron of the Hopman Cop. He has already committed to return to the Hopman Cup in 2018, alongside Belinda Bencic.

Team events in tennis are almost always guaranteed to be a good show, and now the sport has a new one. Stay tuned in September when Team Europe will be the heavy favorites to lift the ridiculously massive trophy.

Follow Andrew on Twitter: @andrewikesports

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