LONDON: The Laver Cup team event between Europe and the rest of the world is to become an official part of the ATP Tour, the governing body of men’s tennis said on Friday. While extremely popular in its first two editions staged in front of sell-out crowds in Prague and Chicago, the competition backed by Roger Federer was seen as something of an outrider. This year’s tournament in Geneva in September will have no ranking points but Friday’s announcement means it will have the same back-up and logistical support as other ATP Tour events. “The Laver Cup team is incredibly excited about this partnership with the ATP,” Tony Godsick, President and CEO of Federer’s management company TEAM8 and Laver Cup chairman, said. “It has always been our hope to build the Laver Cup in partnership with the tennis world, and certification by the ATP after two editions is an overwhelming validation of our vision.” The Laver Cup last year saw a European team captained by Bjorn Borg and including the likes of Federer, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev take on John McEnroe’s world team featuring Nick Kyrgios, Kevin Anderson and John Isner. Critics have suggested it crowds the calendar and uses a prime slot that could be occupied by the Davis Cup which has been revamped this year by the International Tennis Federation.