‘Laver’ of love
Sitting onstage at the St. Regis Hotel on Wednesday were arguably five of the top seven men ever to hit a tennis ball.
Too bad only one of them, Rafael Nadal, will compete at the U.S. Open, which begins Monday in Flushing. Of the other four, three — Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe — are long retired, and Roger Federer still is rehabbing a knee injury. Federer will miss the Open for the first time since 1999.
The fabulous five were at a press conference to announce the birth of a new team competition — similar to golf ’s Ryder Cup — that pits Europe versus The World. It’s being called the Laver Cup after the legendary Australian lefty, the last man to win the Grand Slam.
The event will debut in September 2017, and is intended as an annual extravaganza in non-Olympic years. With the Big 4 of Federer, Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic all hailing from Europe, and the U.S. men having embarrassingly little to add to the World squad, the competition stands as lopsided at best, pointless at worst.
Nadal and Federer, incredibly having to go another year without ever facing each other at the Open, announced plans to form the European doubles team at the Laver Cup.
Nadal called it “very special’’ to play doubles with the Swiss Maestro. Federer will enjoy the Rafa reprieve.
“Being on the same side of the net as Rafa finally,’’ Federer said. “Always facing the great forehand, now I can support it and say, ‘Hit the ball more.’ I can’t wait to play doubles with Rafa.’’
McEnroe, who will captain the World team, acknowledged he will need a “big upset.’’
Each squad will have six players — the first four chosen by the ATP rankings, the next two by coach’s choice. Perhaps by next year, McEnroe will have better options than Steve Johnson and John Isner, the two highest-ranked Americans. Citing the group of young American up-andcomers and the comeback of Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, McEnroe said, “It could be more competitive than it appears at this moment.’’
Borg, the legendary Swede, will be the captain for Europe.
“Rafa, Roger, who wouldn’t want to be captain of those two players?’’ Borg said. “I’m sure we’re going to do well.’’
It was a bittersweet day for the 35-year-old Federer. He was promised a demonstration of Arthur Ashe Stadium’s new retractable roof before he leaves New York on Thursday. He said he could have made it back to play in the Open, but felt it would have been a shortsighted decision. His quads still aren’t strong after he tore his meniscus bathing his young twin daughters earlier this year. He missed the French Open, returned to make the Wimbledon semifinals and then abandoned the rest of the season. Winner of a record 17 Slam titles, Federer called it “a tough decision to say the least.”
“I took this decision because I still see myself playing for numerous years,’’ Federer said. “Otherwise I would’ve said, ‘Who cares?’… But I care too much about my health and the game, and there’s still something possible for me down the road in tennis.’’
Despite a recent slump, Djokovic is the favorite to win the Open, according to Federer. That would leave Djokovic, who won the Australian and French to start the year, at 13 career majors, four behind Federer’s record. Federer thinks the injuryplagued Nadal and the scorching Murray, who won Wimbledon, the Olympics and the key Open tune-up in Cincinnati, also have legitimate shots. marc.berman@nypost.com