Frances Tiafoe’s girlfriend Ayan Broomfield and Casper Ruud’s girlfriend Maria Galligani, alongside the partners of other players competing at the 2024 Laver Cup, stole the limelight during their black carpet appearance on Thursday, September 19. Besides the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz gracing the Roger Federer-backed event, icons such as Ana Ivanovic and Boris Becker, too, attended the Opening Night in Berlin.
The seventh edition of Federer’s brainchild event, the Laver Cup, is set to begin on Friday, September 20, with Team World vying for their third trophy on the trot against four-time champions Team Europe.
Several players are headed for their debuts at the event, including Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard, who represents Europe, will be joined by Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Grigor Dimitrov as part of the main lineup. Flavio Cobolli and Jan-Lennard Struff, meanwhile, serve as alternates.
For Team World, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alejandro Tabilo are two new faces included in the main roster. Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Francisco Cerundolo, and Ben Shelton, who contributed to the team’s glory in 2023, are marking their Laver Cup return this year.
Ahead of the competition, the players and their significant others attended the Opening Night.
While Tiafoe opted for a black tuxedo and bowtie, following the dress code, his girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, dazzled in a royal green dress. Ruud and his girlfriend, Maria Galligani, too, were dressed to the nines.
Alejandro Tabilo and Francisco Cerundolo’s partners, Malena De Lorenzo Gomez and Brenda Chullmir made a rare appearance.
Also present were newlywed Boris Becker and his wife Lilian. Ana Ivanovic and her husband, former German footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger, were all smiles at the event.
Andre Agassi and Yannick Noah, who are set to replace John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg as captains in 2025, also posed with Federer.
Casper Ruud and Francisco Cerundolo set to kick off Laver Cup 2024
Casper Ruud will take the court for Team Europe in the first match of Laver Cup 2024 on Friday, September 20. The Norwegian will be up against Team World’s Francisco Cerundolo in what will be the duo’s seventh career meeting, having split the wins in their previous six encounters.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thanasi Kokkinakis are set to face off in the second match of the day, where the Greek will look to avenge his US Open first-round defeat to the Aussie.
Grigor Dimitrov and Alejandro Tabilo will kick off the night session, which will be followed by a blockbuster mixed doubles battle between the European pair of Alexander Zverev-Carlos Alcaraz and American duo Taylor Fritz-Ben Shelton.