Few names in tennis history resonate as strongly as Andre Agassi, and his new role as Team World captain at the Laver Cup has sparked a wave of excitement among his team members. With his 8 Grand Slam titles and iconic presence, Agassi isn’t just a captain—he’s an inspirational figure whose influence extends far beyond tactics and lineups. Rising star Alex Michelsen, who will be making his debut at the Laver Cup this year, has openly expressed his excitement about competing under the legend’s guidance.

The superstars of the ATP Tour are all set to light up the stage at the Chase Center in San Francisco from 19-21 September. Among those in action will be Top 10 stars Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, representing Team Europe, while Team World will feature the likes of Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. Starting this year, Yannick Noah has replaced Bjorn Borg as the captain for Team Europe, while Andre Agassi has taken charge of Team World from John McEnroe.

Ranked 32nd in the world, Alex Michelsen is one of the brightest prospects in American tennis, and playing under Agassi is more like a dream-come-true moment for these youngsters. 8 years ago, this 21-year-old tennis star enjoyed this iconic tennis event from a seat, but now it’s time for him to step onto the battlefield. Highlighting his excitement for this tournament, Michelsen said, “I can’t wait to wear this (red jacket) in San Francisco. I’m super pumped.” Further on, while sharing his thoughts about playing under Andre Agassi, he added, “Andre Agassi is just such a legend to our sport. I actually met him once when I was 12 or 13 at a Las Vegas National Tournament, and [there’s] no chance he remembers. What an unbelievable ball-striker … so clutch and such a great player. He’s an incredible star for our sport and our country, so it’ll be a blast spending some time with him.“

From watching Agassi win multiple titles in his prime to taking valuable tennis lessons while sitting beside him, one can easily imagine the excitement that this youngster currently has surrounding the 2025 Laver Cup. All he now hopes is that fans will pack the Chase Center, which has a capacity of around 18,000. In addition to Michelsen, Fritz, and De Minaur, teenage phenom João Fonseca, along with Francisco Cerundolo and Reilly Opelka, will also represent Team World. And while sharing his thoughts about playing for the team, Michelsen added, “I’m going to be getting up and yelling all sorts of things from the bench. I’m going to be as supportive as I can because it’s a team competition; you gotta do everything you can to get your teammate over the line.” Teammates like this are perhaps a blessing for any captain, and Andre Agassi will be extremely proud to have him on the team!

This is the eighth edition of the Laver Cup, and guess what? Team Europe has won five of the seven previous editions, but Team World has won two of the last three. Can Andre Agassi and his team do it this time? While sharing his thoughts about Team World’s collective ambition, Michelsen stated, “We’re going to do our best to get home with the W. We’re losing in the overall head-to-head against Europe, so I think we got to try to catch them.” Time will tell who gets the better of the other in this edition, but let me tell you, Alex Michelsen isn’t the only one who’s excited to play under Agassi’s captaincy!

Andre Agassi’s presence ignites Team World’s hopes ahead of the Laver Cup

Excitement is in the air, and it’s mostly due to the presence of Captain Andre Agassi! In this three-day team competition, the first team to reach 13 points will lift the title, and just like Alex Michelsen, even Reilly Opelka, João Fonseca, and Alex de Minaur are excited to take part in this tournament. 

After a four-year hiatus, Opelka will be making a comeback for Team World. While sharing his thoughts on getting the chance to work with tennis legend Andre Agassi, he said, “It’s pretty cool playing for Andre … pretty special. Agassi is one of the few household names in tennis and [has] a lot of aura. He pops up on my ‘Explore’ page on Instagram more than any tennis player. I’m trying to imagine if I was a tennis fan back then and seeing this guy pop up on my TV screen for the first time would be the coolest thing ever.” All he now intends is to bring out his best game and put a broad smile on the face of his captain.

On the other side, the young Brazilian, Fonseca, will also make his debut at the Laver Cup, and he hopes to take his chances against the likes of Alcaraz and Zverev and also help his team beat Team Europe. He also paid a tribute to the new Team World captain, Andre Agassi, by saying, “I love his journey, and the way that he played was super nice.” Fonseca also added, “I love playing with the best, so if Andre picks me for anyone, I’ll be ready.” Keeping the champion mentality intact, he claimed that he never likes to lose, and so he’ll give his best to the team.

Andre Agassi recently spoke about his admiration for Alex de Minaur, and while sharing his thoughts on playing under the legend’s guidance, the Aussie said, “It’s an honor to join Captain Agassi and Team World in San Francisco next week.” 

Which side are you on? Team World or Team Europe? Share your thoughts in the comment box.