LAVER CUP Media Release, July 17, 2019

The stunning Laver Cup trophy is set to shine at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, this summer.

John Isner, Laver Cup Team World member, world No.15 and top seed at this week’s Hall of Fame Open, has helped unveil an exhibition which showcases the magnificent hand-crafted trophy, and spoken fondly of his involvement in the event.

“I’m excited …this is going to be my third Laver Cup, and it’s amazing… I’ve been a part of it three times in a row now,” Isner said.

“For me, it’s a dream, I’ve enjoyed my time in Prague and Chicago so much. Even though we (Team World) lost, the matches were incredibly close, it came down to the last match and the last day. We haven’t been able to win this yet so I’m going to treat this (Laver Cup trophy) like the Stanley Cup and not put a finger on it. I am not going to touch it until we win it so hopefully, we can win it this year in Geneva.

“It was incredible, last year, in Chicago … really both years, I’ve played some really, really good tennis. In Prague, I was able to beat Nadal which was a good win for me. Jack Sock and myself beat Federer and Sascha Zverev but unfortunately I lost to both of those guys in singles where I had match points against both of them.

“This shows how close the competition is and my match against Roger last year in Chicago is really a match I will never forget. The crowd was so electric that whole match and most of the people were actually from Chicago – we were the home team there and we had such great crowd support, even against Roger. It is going to be much different in Geneva but at the same time, that atmosphere is going to be absolutely amazing. 

“The competition has been so intense, the atmosphere amazing – it’s very good for tennis in general.

“I think it’s very cool that the trophy is housed here (at the International Tennis Hall of Fame) year-round. It makes sense for it to be housed here in this place, which is steeped in so much history.”

The Laver Cup was conceived by Roger Federer as a way to honor Rod Laver, and his barnstorming contemporaries, who changed the tennis landscape forever. The sacrifices they made to join the fledgling professional tour, paved the way for Open tennis and allows the superstars of today to perform in front of fans all over the world and make a living from the sport they love.

Part of the mission of the Laver Cup is to celebrate great players from the past, the present and the future, and these stories are woven into the intricate and meaningful design of the spectacular Laver Cup trophy which will be on display to the public throughout the summer.

Set to shine: The #LaverCup trophy takes up residence at the @TennisHalloFame, Newport, Rhode Island. pic.twitter.com/fHLvxzEjnB

— Laver Cup (@LaverCup) July 17, 2019

Todd Martin, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, recognized that his organisation shared many of the same values as the Laver Cup, and thus a collaboration was born.

Working together to educate fans and celebrate the history of the sport and the greats of the game, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Laver Cup team have co-produced special exhibitions at the Laver Cup, in Prague in 2017 and Chicago in 2018, and will continue the tradition in Geneva this year.

“We are thrilled to partner with Laver Cup to bring this new piece of tennis history to our museum,” Todd Martin said.

“The Laver Cup is inspired by one of the world’s all-time greatest sportsmen, both by his incredible accomplishments and his generosity of spirit.

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame is committed to preserving tennis history and sharing the inspiring stories of those who made that history— exactly as the Laver Cup does for Rod and his peers. It makes perfect sense for the trophy to live here for fans be able to have that connection to Rod year-round,” Martin continued.

 “It has always been in our plans to bring the Laver Cup to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It’s a wonderful opportunity for fans to learn more about the stories behind this magnificent trophy,” Laver Cup CEO Steve Zacks said.

“With the opening of this special exhibition more tennis fans will have the chance to see the trophy, and through its detailed design elements, gain a greater appreciation for Rod Laver’s character and achievements and the origins of the Laver Cup.”

ABOUT THE LAVER CUP TROPHY 

·         Hand-crafted from solid sterling silver to suggest the shape of a rocket, reflecting Rod Laver’s nickname

·         Molten metal from part of Rod Laver’s New England Merchant Bank Trophy from the US Pro Tennis Championships has been incorporated into the Laver Cup

·         Curved arms come together signifying rivals becoming teammates

·         200 notches on the rim represent Rod Laver’s 200 career tennis titles

·         Two sets of four rings on the base represent Rod Laver’s Grand Slams, in 1962 and 1969

·         Production of the trophy took more than 400 hours

·         The Laver Cup stands 26in/66cm tall and weighs 31lb/14kg

·         Conceptualized by the Laver Cup organization with London design agency Designwerk

·         Handcrafted by silversmiths at Thomas Lyte, a company associated with some of the world’s greatest sporting trophies, including the Ryder Cup and football’s FA Cup.

LAVER CUP GENEVA 2019

The Laver Cup will take place at Palexpo, Geneva, from September 20-22, 2019.

Team Europe hoisted the trophy at the inaugural event in Prague in 2017 and in Chicago in 2018.