As tennis is known for its demanding physicality, thrill, and excitement, it is also for the prize money. With a growing fanbase, there are lot of money to be made from each ATP and Grand Slam. Laver Cup 2023 was not left out, as the total prize money pool was a whopping sum.
Team World, for the very first time, successfully defended their title at the 2023 Laver Cup. The Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe beat Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6(5), 7-6(4) to help Team World hit the 13-point mark needed to defeat Team Europe.
Laver Cup 2023: prize pool, pay day
The total prize pool for Laver Cup 2023 is $2,250,000, the same as it has been since 2021, and players from both teams will be paid. The players from the winning team – Team World, will each be paid $250,000 along with a participation fee that is based on the players’ rankings. They include Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, and Francisco Cerundolo.
Team Europe’s squad for the tournament comprised of Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Gael Monfils, and Arthur Fils, and each of them will receive a prize money of $125,000 apart from the participation fees.
Team Europe won the first four editions of the tournament but that run came to an end last year in London when Team World finally emerged victorious at a tournament that marked the end of Roger Federer’s career. This year the Tennis Swiss legend watched from the stands Tiafoe and Shelton humiliated his former team.
After a come-from-behind victory in last year’s tournament, Team World’s second triumph was much different. It swept all four matches on Friday, and won eight of the nine matches played, for a dominant 13-2 final score at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.
Shelton, Tiafoe clinch Laver Cup for Team World
Team World successfully defended their title after beating Team Europe in the 2023 Laver Cup. Team World was dominant throughout the first two days of the tournament and each of the six players in their squad was involved in wins. Tommy Paul was the only player in the Team World squad to not win a singles match as he was beaten 7-6(6), 6-2 by Casper Ruud, which eventually turned out to be Team Europe’s only points of the tournament.
Team World led 10-2 heading into the final day, where Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe were up against Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev. The American pair won 7-6(4), 7-6(5) to seal 13 points for the team captained by John McEnroe, thus securing the Laver Cup.
Every one of John McEnroe’s players (Team World) chipped in one point to the overall score. Francisco Cerundolo, Taylor Fritz and Auger-Aliassime joined Tiafoe and Shelton in winning singles matches over the first two days.
Ben Shelton, in his Laver Cup debut, went 3-0 for the week, chipping in six of Team World’s 13 total points. Tiafoe, who provided the clinching victory in last year’s Laver Cup, also added six points. Shelton beat France’s Arthur Fils in the opening singles match on Friday before teaming with home favorite Felix Auger-Aliassime in a winning doubles effort on Day 2.
“Being part of that last year was so emotional, first time … now, to be able to do it again, in doubles with Ben, was a lot of fun. Now, it’s time to celebrate,” Tiafoe said after the win.
Ben Shelton said, “It’s been crazy for me. I’ve enjoyed being in a team environment, playing for Johnny Mac. Team World really brought the energy this week. It’s easy for me to play when I’m amped up and hyped. The bench has done a great job of hyping me up all week, and I hope I’ve done a good job of hyping them up too. I really enjoyed the whole weekend.”
As Team World rejoices after successive triumphs against Team Europe at the Laver Cup, Team Europe must keep their heads up and work hard next year for the title. They had won the cup four times and had a better experience in the Laver Cup tournament, they should seek how to reinvigorate their experience into motivation in 2024 Laver Cup.
