Nadal and Federer lead Europe in inaugural Laver Cup

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during action against Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina during US Open quarterfinals in New York, US, Sept 6, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

EUROPE FAVORED

Team Europe also includes German Alexander Zverev, Croatia's Marin Cilic, Austrian Dominic Thiem and Czech Tomas Berdych.

Team World features Americans Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, John Isner and Frances Tiafoe plus Australia's Nick Krygios and Canadian Denis Shapovalov.

With five players inside the world's top 10, the Borg-led European squad is heavily favored against a world team hit by Argentine Juan Martin del Potro's late withdrawal due to injury.

"I'm expecting a lot of fun but at the same time I know it's going to be very competitive," the 22-year-old Krygios told reporters. "We are the underdogs."

The tournament, which will rotate between Europe and the rest of the world each year, features three singles and one doubles match each day. A win is worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday.

In a bid to keep the pace humming, the indoor hard court matches at Prague's O2 Arena will be best-of-three sets with a 10-point tiebreak deciding the final set.

With no player featuring in singles more than twice during the first two days, Nadal and Federer could see themselves on the same side of the net in a mouthwatering doubles pairing.

"We don't even know if captain Borg is going to pick us but, of course, I would love to play with Rafa and see that forehand do damage on the other side (of the net)," Federer said.

"I'm sure that the crowd would go absolutely crazy and just because of that it would just be great to play us potentially."

Reuters