Imagining a hypothetical women's version of the Laver Cup: Who would make the line-up in 2024? Ft. Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka
The seventh edition of the Laver Cup will take centrestage from September 20-22, 2024. The leading stars of the men's tour will light up the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany for a tantalizing weekend.
Carlos Alcaraz leads the line-up for Team Europe, which also features Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Grigor Dimitrov. Rafael Nadal was initially part of the team as well but withdrew from the tournament.
This year's US Open runner-up, Taylor Fritz, headlines Team World. He is joined by compatriots Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, along with Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alejandro Tabilo, and Francisco Cerundolo. They're the two-time defending champions as well.
While the men have entertained over the years with some memorable moments, one can't help but wonder how a line-up with the leading ladies of tennis would pan out. With that in mind, here's a look at who could make the cut for the WTA edition of the Laver Cup if it were held this year:
Serena Williams would don the captain's hat for Team World in the Laver Cup
Every team needs a captain, and for the women's version of the Laver Cup, Serena Williams is the top choice to helm the matters at Team World. The 23-time Major champion is hands down the most accomplished player for the job.
Williams won't have to look too far to assemble her team as Americans have performed quite well this year. Jessica Pegula was the second best player this summer behind Aryna Sabalenka, and reached her maiden Major final at the US Open a couple of weeks ago.
Emma Navarro's rapid rise has made the world take notice of her, and her results certainly merit her a place on the team. Coco Gauff's recent slump is a little concerning. However, her place in the top 10 isn't in danger by any means, and she's still raring to compete.
Zheng Qinwen's heroics at the Paris Olympics made her the first player from Asia to clinch the singles gold medal in tennis. She was also the runner-up at the Australian Open at the start of the season. As such, she would be a strong addition to the team.
Danielle Collins announced her retirement from the sport earlier this year, and has played with more freedom than ever before. In her last year on the tour, she captured the biggest title of her career at the Miami Open. The American's feistiness would certainly amp up the atmosphere at the Laver Cup.
Lastly, four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka warrants a place on the team as well. She's one of the most accomplished players of her generation, and while she has been a little unsteady since her comeback, she still has a knack to push today's top players.
Steffi Graf would lead Team Europe in the WTA version of the Laver Cup
Steffi Graf is the most decorated female tennis player to come out of Europe. Naturally, she's the leading pick to captain Team Europe in the women's version of the Laver Cup.
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, the tour's best two players, are the first picks to be a part of the team. The two swept three of the year's four Majors between them, and their rivalry is this era's defining one. However, the two will need to keep the competitiveness aside for the Laver Cup.
Czechia has been a powerhouse in women's tennis for decades now. Barbora Krejcikova captured her second Major title in singles at Wimbledon this year. Karolina Muchova reached the semifinals of the US Open just a few weeks into her comeback.
Muchova also pushed Swiatek to three sets in the final of last year's French Open. Both of them would be a solid addition to the team. Jasmine Paolini was the runner-up at this year's French Open and Wimbledon. She also claimed her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai this year.
Paolini nabbed the gold medal in doubles at the Paris Olympics as well. Her breakthrough season has been quite impressive, and she has earned her place on the team with her results this year.
Teen phenom Mirra Andreeva would be the ideal candidate to complete the line-up. The youngster reached her maiden Major semifinal at the French Open, and won her first WTA title after that. Her vibrant personality and style of play would make her a welcome addition to the team. Both teams are evenly matched, so this would be a fun version of Laver Cup to witness if it ever materializes.