Andre Agassi looks to put his own spin on Team World captaincy

Andre Agassi is looking forward to assuming the helm of Team World when Laver Cup lands in San Francisco in 2025.

“Watching it over the last handful of years, it’s hard not to be captivated by it,” said the American eight-time major champion, who is thrilled with the intensity and energy that players bring to the team event.
“I like the idea of a team format where you can bring the best players in the world and compete against each other in a big arena with a lot of fans,” said the 54-year-old. “It’s competitive, and they’re into it, and the crowd’s into it.”

Agassi is enthusiastic about fostering new bonds with the players on Team World. “I don’t think you can parachute into a player’s life for seven days and expect to necessarily make a difference, but you can certainly make a connection and certainly have the opportunity year-round to get to know them, and I have on a few cases, so that’s what I look forward to,” said Agassi.

“I look forward to getting to see them up close and personal, and [learning] what makes them tick and what cues they need to remind themselves [of] who they are as a player,” he added. “My hope would be that everybody I spend time with … is better off for the time spent,” said the right-hander.  The Las Vegas resident credited John McEnroe’s seven-year tenure and ongoing commitment to the sport.

“Obviously John’s love and passion for the game is unmatched,” said Agassi. “Everything he does around tennis — he cares deeply about it and takes pride in what he does.”

“He’s done a great job, and it certainly has translated into a lot of excitement,” Agassi added, noting that he’ll bring his own unique personality and style to the role of captain. The ability to bring world-class tennis to new cities across the globe is a huge drawcard for the event, the American said. “I think that’s one of the great upsides of the Laver Cup — going to some of these cities where maybe they don’t always get the chance to have a big event or even an event,” he observed.

“San Francisco is a great example, I’ve played there a lot over the years, but to bring this level of tennis to that city [is] going to mean a great deal to the community,” Agassi added, pointing to the success of editions in Chicago and Vancouver. “It’s great for the city and I think it’s great for the game, too,” he said. “Kids get a lot more inspired, easier, quicker by going to any live sporting event.

“Unquestionably, inevitably, when we look back in our life, it was always somebody that inspired us, right?”

“When the kids show up and see somebody live and watch the way the ball comes up, you never know what the trigger is, but being there sure increases the likelihood of them getting involved in the game.”

Agassi paid tribute to Rod Laver, citing the Australian’s “staggering” and “epic” accomplishment of winning all four Grand Slams in the same year twice, seven years apart, as a fact that propels him to the pinnacle of the sport.

“That’s pretty darn incredible,” said Agassi. “He might be at the top of the mountain as it relates to, when you look at the greatest ever … what he did was amazing.”  “It’s fitting to have an event of this magnitude carry his name.”