Stefanos Tsitsipas withdraws from Laver Cup due to injury in blow to Team Europe after Holger Rune pulls out

Stefanos Tsitsipas has pulled out of the Laver Cup due to injury in another blow to Team Europe’s chances.

Team Europe had already seen world No. 4 Holger Rune withdraw, and have now lost their next highest-ranked player in world No. 5 Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas has been replaced in the team by 19-year-old Arthur Fils.

World No. 6 Andrey Rublev will now be the top-ranked singles player on Team Europe, and will be joined by Casper Ruud, Hubert Hurkacz, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Gael Monfils and Fils.

Fils has had a breakthrough season on tour, reaching a career-high No. 44 in the world rankings and winning his first title in May.

Tsitsipas’ withdrawal comes after a difficult summer that saw him win two matches across Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open. He also couldn’t prevent Greece losing to Slovakia in the Davis Cup last week.

Rune pulled out due to a back injury and was replaced by Davidovich Fokina.

“As I am in treatment with my back, it’s not possible for me to play Laver Cup next week,” said Rune on social media.

“I would have loved to join the fight to get the trophy back to Europe and I will support my team-mates from a distance.”

Team Europe will be looking to win back the Laver Cup after Team World claimed victory for the first time last year.

Roger Federer, who co-founded the Laver Cup, will be watching in Vancouver and is excited to see some “superstar combinations” in the doubles.

“I get very excited about Laver Cup doubles because there are usually teams that we haven’t seen in the past, so I would like to maybe see Hurkacz and Rublev play together.

“On the Team World side, there are tons of doubles teams with Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz… I just like superstar combinations.”