Following 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from Laver Cup 2024 in Berlin, the event confirmed Wednesday that world No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov will replace the Spaniard, representing Team Europe.
On Tuesday, the event organizer revealed through social media a statement from 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal announcing his withdrawal.
“I am really disappointed to share that I won’t be able to compete at the Laver Cup in Berlin next week.
“This is a team competition, and to really support Team Europe, I need to do what is best for them, and at this moment, there are other players who can help the team deliver the win.”
The 2024 edition of the three-day team competition begins next Friday in Berlin, Germany, at Uber Arena.
“I have so many great, emotional memories from playing Laver Cup, and I was really looking forward to being with my teammates and Bjorn in his final year as Captain,” Nadal added.
“I wish Team Europe the best of luck and will be cheering them on from afar.”
Today, the tournament confirmed former world number three Dimitrov will replace Nadal, representing Team Europe in the competition.
The 9-time ATP titlist was forced to retire from his quarterfinal match against eventual semifinalist Frances Tiafoe at the U.S. Open last week due to injury.
The 33-year-old has been displaying his A-game, enjoying a remarkable run this season, only disrupted by the injury he sustained in Wimbledon, an abductor tear in his left leg that sidelined the player from tour-level competition for about a month.
Among Bulgaria’s No. 1 player highlights this year, he added the Brisbane title to his career achievements, defeating Holger Rune in the final.
Moreover, he went the distance to crack back into the top 10 early in April.
Then, he made it through the championship match at the Miami Open, a Masters 1000 event - lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Then, he reached the quarterfinals at the French Open, beaten by the Italian player, and most recently, he accomplished a new career milestone, capturing his 450th victory on tour at the U.S. Open.
The Bulgarian will join Captain Bjorn Borg’s six-man team, also featuring world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 2 Alexander Zverev, No. 5 Daniil Medvedev, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and Norway’s top racquet Casper Ruud, both making his fourth appearance at the event.
Team Europe will bid to win the Laver Cup’s seventh edition in 2024, which marks Borg and Team World leader John McEnroe’s final year as Laver Cup captains.
U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz and compatriots Tiafoe and Ben Shelton represent reigning champions Team World.
Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, making his debut at the event in Berlin, Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, and Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis complete the six-man line-up.
Cerundolo and Kokkinakis replace injured American Tommy Paul and world No. 11 Alex de Minaur, who have withdrawn due to injury.
According to the rules, each team’s six players must all compete in one singles match during the first two days and no more than two during the three-day competition. And at least four of the six players must play doubles.
Furthermore, each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday, with the first team to reach 13 points winning the Laver Cup.
