Alex de Minaur and Tommy Paul have pulled out of the 2024 Laver Cup because of injuries, with Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis stepping in to replace them.
Team World is missing two key players this year because of these injuries. Both de Minaur and Paul have played well at the Laver Cup before, but this time they won’t be able to join due to their health issues.
This year, both players were performing exceptionally well. De Minaur’s troubles began at Wimbledon with a hip injury that halted his progress . Ever since then, he’s struggled in other events too.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| au Alex De Minaur | 25 | 3,845 | 29 - 11 |
Despite not being fully fit, de Minaur managed to reach the second week of the US Open before losing to Jack Draper. Paul also showed good form until he felt a leg issue during his match against Jannik Sinner at the US Open.
Impact on Team World:
Captain John McEnroe had planned to rely heavily on these two players. Their absence is a huge blow for him and the team. Fans might think this makes Team World’s chances even slimmer against a strong Team Europe lineup featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev.
Playing in Berlin makes it even tougher for Team World as it’s not their home ground. De Minaur and Paul don’t want to risk further injury for an exhibition event when there’s more tennis left in the season.
John McEnroe has chosen replacements: Francisco Cerundolo and Thanasi Kokkinakis. Cerundolo brings excitement even if he’s inconsistent; he’s never boring to watch! Kokkinakis has worked really hard this year, playing many matches to find his best form after years plagued by injuries.
Now healthy, Kokkinakis has a chance to shine in Berlin. Given how he’s been playing lately, he could make a significant impact.
This situation isn’t ideal for Team World but they’ll try their best under these circumstances.
What do you think about these changes?
