How Rafael Nadal responded to critics calling the Laver Cup an ‘exhibition event’

A sport steeped in tradition, tennis has long been criticised for its lack of innovation, but an attempt to change that narrative was made in 2017.

The Laver Cup had its inaugural edition that year, offering fans the tennis equivalent of the famous biennial Ryder Cup golf tournament.

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Co-created by Roger Federer, the event pits six players from Europe and six players from the rest of the world against each other in a series of singles and doubles matches across three days.

With the ninth Laver Cup set to get underway next week, the event is slowly building its reputation and credibility by continuing to attract the world's very best players each and every year.

But regardless of how much effort is put into boosting the status of the Laver Cup, many fans will refuse to consider it anything more than an exhibition event.

The Laver Cup has had some scathing reviews during its lifetime, even by players, including former French star Julien Benneteau.

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On the Grandes Gueules du Sport podcast in 2024, Benneteau said the Laver Cup had 'no sporting value' and claimed: "The players are only participating because the cheque is huge."

The total prize money pot for the 2026 Laver Cup is $1.5 million, with each player from the winning side set to receive $250,000. No prize money is awarded to members of the losing team.

During a press conference before the first edition of the Laver Cup in 2017, Federer and his longtime rival Rafael Nadal were grilled on the competitiveness of the event.

When asked if the Laver Cup was just exhibition, Nadal responded: "No, is not an exhibition at all. No, no, I don't think.

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"No, we are here to try our best, no? I woke up today at 4:00 in the morning to practice. An exhibition match, I don't practice before an exhibition match normally, no.

"We are here to try our best. We are here to try to win. Not at all like a friendly match, no? We are here to really play with passion and to play for our continent.

"We have a great team behind us. We want to do it well for all of them. Let's see if we are able to do it."

Team Europe won the first Laver Cup, beating Team World 15-9.

What happened at the first Laver Cup that 'excited' Roger Federer

Asked that day how important it was for him to recreate the passion of the Ryder Cup into the Laver Cup, Federer replied: "Well, I think it's going to be vital. That's why I'm very excited to see that the guys all arrived a day early.

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"You know, they were supposed to arrive on Wednesday. They all came in on Tuesday. Everybody seems really eager to play, to win.

"But of course we have to give it the passion and the energy. Without that, the fans are just going to sit there and maybe enjoy some tennis, but they're not going to get into it.

"I hope that while we are playing on home soil, the fans are going to understand how much we need their support and how lovely it would be if everybody got really excited and make this event something very unique and special for years to come. But it's clearly crucial."

The 2026 Laver Cup starts on the 25th of September.

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