ROGER PLAYS IT COOL IN SLAM RACE WITH RAFA

A SUBJECT that will remain off limits in the Team Europe locker room these next few days is one the rest of tennis is talking about. Roger Federer admitted on Thursday that he and Rafael Nadal, on the same side in the Laver Cup, have not discussed the Spaniard breathing down his neck in the race — also involving Novak djokovic — to end up with the most Grand Slam titles. ‘I don’t feel like it’s an elephant in the room,’ said Federer of his 20 wins to Nadal’s 19. ‘This is not stuff you really talk about. I’m generally happy for Rafa for winning in New York and winning all the other ones that he has and all the Frenches he’s won. It’s just a massive respect I have for Rafa, what he’s done. ‘djokovic, Sampras, you name it. The point is to try to win for yourself, your fans, your team, and try to have your best career.’ John McEnroe, the Team World skipper, joked: ‘They may call it a day after this weekend when we whip their asses.’ Meanwhile, Sportsmail has learned that the ATP Tour players’ petition demanding Grand Slam events give them a bigger share of revenues in prize money — signed by around 80 players — has been extended to female players. The Williams sisters are among those in favour. The players argue that the likes of Wimbledon should give them more than the present share of around 14 per cent of tournament revenues, which is lower than most other sports. LAVER CUP: LIVE on Eurosport today, tomorrow and Sunday.