It’s Europe vs the World

Geneva, September 19 

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Roger Federer said he would be happy for the Laver Cup to be played in China in the future, ahead of the tournament’s third edition starting on Friday in Geneva.

After the inaugural Laver Cup contested between Team Europe and Team World was held in Prague in 2017, last year’s tournament in Chicago drew sellout crowds as Federer and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic helped Europe win 13-8. “Why not... it’s completely open and flexible, but you have got to ask the Laver Cup people,” 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer said.

“I’m sure they’re looking into it, where it’s going to go for the next decade or so. China has been a good place for us players. The tournaments in Shanghai and Beijing, they’ve been big. It’s growing there as well with all the tournaments that are coming now, also on the women side.”

Bertens, Sloane bow out

Osaka: Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova stunned second seed Kiki Bertens 6-1 7-5 to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals today, while American Sloane Stephens suffered another early exit. Third seed Stephens, who has not reached a quarterfinal since the French Open in May, was beaten 6-0 6-3 by Italian Camila Giorgi. — Agencies