Laver Cup partners Federer and Djokovic guaranteed to thrill on Friday

The Laver Cup kicks off on Friday:

CHICAGO–Last year the Laver Cup featured the superstar doubles team of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. This year, Federer will suit up for Team Europe alongside another of his greatest rivals, Novak Djokovic.

"I'm thrilled, excited, I have never played with Novak," Federer said. "We have had so many great battles in all the singles courts, and to finally team up together I think is going to be very special for both of us. I think we still have to talk over it a little bit exactly maybe either who's going to take the lead or, you know, how do we play exactly."

Two great singles players don't always make a great doubles pairing, but in this case, it's going to be a memorable occasion no matter what the result is.

"You're talking about two of the four or five greatest players that ever played tennis on the same court," Team World captain John McEnroe said. "Just from that standpoint alone, it will be extremely interesting to check it out."

Djokovic and Federer will take on Jack Sock and Kevin Anderson. The task will be formidable, to say the least. Sock is a three-time Grand Slam doubles champion and just "pulled a Novak" by winning both Wimbledon and the US Open (with Mike Bryan).

"This is what this competition is all about—bringing us all together," Djokovic said. "We are going to have Anderson and Sock, who is one of the best doubles players in the world, across the net. We are going to have a great challenge."

Anderson, who recently paired with Djokovic in Toronto, is no slouch on the doubles court either. He's a former NCAA doubles champion and has played in four ATP doubles finals (winning one in 2014). He's also one of the best servers in the sport and stands at an intimidating 6'8".

"As a half-court specialist, I trust my abilities out there and teaming up with Kevin who has a monstrous serve, great return, good hands," Sock said. "Hopefully get a W for the team."

Federer is going in confident, despite not playing doubles since the first Laver Cup in Prague last year.

"I haven't played doubles since last year. So I'm firing. I won my match," Federer said. "I feel like I'm really confident from that match still. All kidding aside, we'll be practicing our doubles."

And they have been. The practice courts at the United Center have been bustling with activity, and the players are putting in as much doubles work as singles.

Frances Tiafoe and Grigor Dimitrov will open Laver Cup 2018 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Sock will have a busy day as he's also playing in the second singles match of the day session against Kyle Edmund. David Goffin opens the night session at 7 p.m. against Diego Schwartzman before the highly anticipated doubles match takes center stage.