When former ATP icon and 7-time slam champion John McEnroe became Team World’s Laver Cup Captain, hopes were high for a successful journey. However, the results haven’t gone their way – most of the time. Although McEnroe led his team to two title wins, Team Europe’s predominance shone through in all seven editions. “It would be great to go out on a high,” said McEnroe achingly, hoping to win a third trophy last year in his farewell campaign. Despite his constant efforts to motivate the squad, Team World fell short again. Now his successor and longtime tennis rival, Andre Agassi, believes otherwise. In fact, he took a hilarious dig at McEnroe.

Eight-time major winner Agassi took over as Team World’s new leader after McEnroe’s stint since 2017. The 55-year-old recently spoke to 2003 US Open winner and ex-ATP pro Andy Roddick ahead of his team’s clash against Team Europe. Roddick was impressed with how Agassi had been showing a lot of enthusiasm and involvement already. “I have heard numerous people, ran into some in the lobby of the hotel and they say, ‘Andre is really getting into his guys’, like, you are into this. You are here for the win.” To this, Agassi had a perfectly witty, humor-laced response. He took a potshot at his predecessor. “Well, of course we are here for the win. I mean, but that being said like yeah, I want to be on that practice court. I mean, rumor has it John (McEnroe) never went on the practice court.”

But Agassi made it clear that he didn’t have anything against McEnroe. “I mean, I am not dissing him or anything, but yeah, that to me, is the best part.” Jokes aside, however, the former tennis icon is leaving no stone unturned in pushing Team World on the path to glory again. It’s been two years since they captured the coveted trophy.

Now that he’s taken over from McEnroe, Agassi has got a strategy for this season’s Laver Cup. Seems like his champion mentality may finally change the Red warriors’ fortunes against the Blue army.

Ahead of the event’s commencement, he shared some crucial details on how his role as the captain may shape out. Most importantly, the target remains the title. His plan for the weekend at the Chase Centre in San Francisco? He has done the grunt work.

Andre Agassi’s key to success at the Laver Cup for Team World

Andre Agassi will lead a team comprising stars like Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Alex Michelsen, teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, Francisco Cerundolo, and Reilly Opelka. The International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee recently talked about taking the team forward while spilling the beans on his strategy.

In the pre-event press conference, he revealed, “Coaching is about what somebody hears, not what you say. It’s learning about people, about players, in real time,” as reported by the Laver Cup’s website on September 18.

On managing a group of different athletes from different nationalities, he added, “I think the most important thing is to understand how they process. We all work so differently,” and that’s “going to be so important to understand in real-time what they’re looking for — information, clarity, focus, energy.”

His approach is going to be straightforward. “Everybody responds differently. I’ve had a chance to talk to a few of their coaches as well. It’s hard to parachute into these guys’ lives and act like you know everything. I don’t.” Concluding his thoughts, the former World No.1 said, “I’m trying not to interfere with what they already do so great that gets them here in the first place. Trying to learn is the first role of being the captain.”

Do you think Agassi’s guidance will help Team World to reclaim the Laver Cup title for a third time? Drop us a comment with your prediction.