Isner & De Minaur complete Team World’s lineup

Big-serving American John Isner and Australia’s top-ranked player Alex de Minaur have been named to John McEnroe’s Team World for the upcoming Laver Cup, to be held at The O2 in London from September 23-25, 2022.

World No.48 Isner is returning for his fifth Laver Cup and will be the only player to have competed at every event since the first edition at Prague 2017. World No.20 De Minaur is a newcomer to the competition and joins Felix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz, Diego Schwartzman and Jack Sock on McEnroe’s six-man team.

“This is a highly accomplished and competitive team,” said McEnroe. “Isner brings a wealth of experience and a record of success in singles and doubles at the Laver Cup. He is a consummate professional and a leader on the court.

“Alex is a great fighter, and it’s exciting to have him join the team. He will thrive in this environment and has earned his spot with his play!”

Isner owns 16 career titles in singles and eight in doubles, winning two ATP Masters 1000 doubles titles so far in 2022, at Miami (with Hubert Hurkacz) and Indian Wells, partnering with Team World teammate Sock. They have never lost a doubles match together in Laver Cup competition. Isner also combined with Team World teammate Schwartzman in doubles at the Rome Masters in May, where they made the final.

Isner pulled off a thrilling upset over Team Europe’s Rafael Nadal in Prague, bringing Team World close to winning the inaugural Laver Cup. At Geneva in 2019, he defeated higher-ranked Alexander Zverev.

I feel honored to be selected for Team World, it means so much to me,” said Isner. “This is such a special event and London will be bigger than ever. Team World has come so close to winning the Laver Cup, and I truly believe we can pull it off this year.

De Minaur rose to the top of the class at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, finishing runner-up in 2018 and 2019. Selected as 2018 ATP Newcomer of the Year, he won his first title on Sydney’s hard courts in 2019 and achieved a career-high No.15 ranking in 2021. He has picked up six ATP Tour singles titles across four continents, most recently at Atlanta, again on a hard court.

I’m excited to be playing the Laver Cup in September,” De Minaur said. “I’ve heard many great things from my mates on the Tour and I can’t wait to get out there for John McEnroe and my teammates.

McEnroe’s men will be seeking to win their first Laver Cup against the defending champions from Team Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg.  Team Europe were the champions in Prague 2017, Chicago in 2018, Geneva in 2019, and Boston in 2021.

Team Europe’s lineup consists of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.