Roger Federer previews 'bittersweet' 2024 Laver Cup and makes his predictions

Roger Federer continues to be the Laver Cup's No. 1 fan. After touching down in Berlin, where the seventh all-time edition of the Laver Cup will take place later this week, the Swiss legend opened up on some of his favorite memories from his time playing in the event, and revealed who he thinks has the edge in 2024.

Federer famously ended his tennis career two years ago when the event was played at London's O2 Arena, a run that was freshly chronicled this year with the release of a documentary Federer: Twelve Final Days on Amazon Prime. But every time he's returned to the event since then, his nostalgia for those emotional moments is still top of mind, he says.

"Just being on the bench with Bjorn Borg, being in the locker room with Novak, and Rafa, and Murray ... has been incredible," he said. "Going out there and feeling the support of the best players in the world is a very special feeling."

Read more: 'The atmosphere is always electric': Excitement builds for Laver Cup's return

Pivoting to the present, Federer thinks that a stacked Team Europe squad, led by first-time Laver Cup participant Carlos Alcaraz as well as Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, are "heavy favorites" in singles, but that Team World, which won all three doubles matches last year to defend the title it first won in 2022, has the edge in pairs. Ultimately, as he told the Laver Cup website, he thinks the men in blue will ride the advantage of being the home side through to victory.

Three players are making their Laver Cup debuts in 2024, and Federer says that that's no coincidence. In addition to Alcaraz, Alejandro Tabilo and Thanasi Kokkinakis are playing for the first time this year (the Aussie was an alternate once before) for Team World, while Grigor Dimitrov is back after last featuring in the event's inaugural 2017 edition.

Read more: The competition and camaraderie of Laver Cup set to unfold with new chapter in Berlin

"When I see the players, I feel like they're so happy to be coming together," he said. "The camaraderie ... we all like having team events."

But despite the excitement that fresh faces are bringing to the show, Federer also dubbed the 2024 event as "nostalgic" and "bittersweet" as captains Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe will be leading the Laver Cup teams for the final time. They will be succeeded by Yannick Noah and Andre Agassi beginning with the 2025 San Francisco edition.

"I want them to be really happy this week and not sad in any way," he said. "I'm sure it's going to be a great week."

Laver Cup action begins on Friday live from Berlin's Uber Arena.