WATCH: Roger Federer all smiles as he reunites with Ana Ivanovic, hugs Serb & her husband Bastien Schweinsteiger at Laver Cup 2024

Roger Federer was recently seen exchanging pleasantries with Ana Ivanovic and her husband, Bastian Schweinsteiger, on the 2024 Laver Cup black carpet in Berlin. This marks the second edition of the tournament that Federer will miss as a player since his retirement in 2022.

Federer's management company, Team 8, along with Jorge Paulo Lemann and Tennis Australia, founded the all-men’s team tennis tournament in 2017. The Swiss was part of Team Europe, who won the tournament in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

While the preparations for the tournament, which is set to kick off on Friday, are in full swing, players and dignitaries interacted and took pictures on the black carpet. Among those present was former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, accompanied by her husband, Bastian Schweinsteiger, who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Germany.

On the black carpet, the couple was seen exchanging hugs with Roger Federer. Ivanovic wore a stunning red gown, while Federer and Schweinsteiger opted for tuxedos.

Ana Ivanovic had an impressive career, winning the 2008 French Open and reaching the final of the same tournament in 2007. Before her retirement in 2016, she secured a total of 15 career singles titles.

Roger Federer predicts Team Europe win at 2024 Laver Cup

Tennis:Laver Cup Opening Night - Source: Getty

In a recent interview on the Laver Cup's official website, Roger Federer predicted that Team Europe would secure the singles trophy due to the favorable altitude, while Team World would win the doubles trophy because of their current form.

“Altitude is low which is, in my mind, going to make the best players win, I think we are – I always talk as we, because I’m Europe,” he chuckled, “in the singles matches, we are heavy favorites even though I know that Team World has great players right now that are red hot and playing super well, I still think most of the matches in singles are going to go Team Europe’s way and then the doubles, I feel like most are going to go Team World’s way,” said Federer.

With the seventh edition already underway, Team Europe has won the first four editions, while Team World has claimed the last two titles.

In the same interview, he reflected on the uncertainty they faced when launching the tournament in 2017.

“There was a lot of uncertainty at the very beginning when we started seven years ago,” he reflected. “Was everything going to go according to plan? Were people going to show up? Did they like the product? Were the players going to show up?”

“It’s like a brotherhood getting together, paying tribute to the past generation, bringing in the new generation and then morphing it together Ryder Cup-style and coming up with a concept that would work throughout a weekend” He added

Since its inaugural edition in 2017, the Laver Cup has gained significant popularity among fans and players worldwide. In 2019, just two years later, the ATP officially recognized the tournament; however, participating players do not earn ranking points.