European aces likely to dominate second edition of cup

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The second edition of the Laver Cup starts in Chicago on Friday and Team Europe are 4-11 shots to defeat Team World.

Roger Federer, one of the driving forces behind the Ryder Cup-style event, heads a Euro­pean sextet featuring Novak Djokovic, who could finish the year as world number one after Rafael Nadal's decision to miss the Far East swing.

Wimbledon semi-final opponents Kevin Anderson and John Isner are the big-serving towers dominating the World team.

The 11-4 outsiders may have been stronger had impressive alternate Nicolas Jarry been given the nod instead of struggling Jack Sock, who has won one match since May.

Sock played well in the first Laver Cup in Prague last September, when Europe won 15-9, but he has reached just one quarter-final this year.

Grigor Dimitrov, who has been below his best in recent months, could be a weak link for Europe, but Federer's team look sure to pick up easy points with Wimbledon and US Open champion Djokovic in scintillating form once again.

Laver Cup teams (rankings shown) – World: K Anderson (9), J Isner (10), D Schwartzman (14), J Sock (17), N Kyrgios (27), F Tiafoe (40), N Jarry (46; alt); capt. J McEnroe; Europe: R Federer (2), N Djokovic (3), A Zverev (5), G Dimitrov (7), D Goffin (11), K Edmund (16), J Chardy (alt; 41); capt. B Borg.

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