Laver Cup starts tomorrow. Europe takes on the Rest of the World. Gonna be a Sublime Watch

Laver Cup 2026 Preview — London Is Ready. Europe vs The World. Let’s Go!

The Laver Cup is back in London. And if there is one thing we know about this tournament — expect drama. Expect big tennis. Expect the unexpected.

From Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September, The O2 in London hosts Team Europe against Team World in the ninth edition of the Laver Cup. It is also a return to the building where Roger Federer played the final match of his career in 2022.

Team Europe — Alcaraz Leads The Charge

Carlos Alcaraz. Alexander Zverev. Flavio Cobolli. Rafael Jodar. Jakub Mensik. Casper Ruud.

Captain: Yannick Noah
Vice Captain: Tim Henman

That is some team.

And of course my eyes immediately go to Carlos Alcaraz.

What a story his 2026 has already been. After the wrist injury and that long spell away from competitive singles, Carlos returned at the US Open — and now he walks into London as one of the headline names of Team Europe. Vamos Carlos.

But Europe certainly isn’t just about Alcaraz. Zverev knows this competition inside out. He is preparing for his seventh Laver Cup and has accumulated more points in the competition than any other player.

Then there is Cobolli, Mensik and young Rafael Jodar, while Casper Ruud brings another big dose of Laver Cup experience. Ruud is making his sixth consecutive appearance and entered this edition with a 6-3 Laver Cup record.

There is youth.There is experience.And there is serious firepower.

But Team World Are The Defending Champions. Don’t underestimate this lot.

Taylor Fritz. Alex de Minaur. Learner Tien. Alexander Bublik. Brandon Nakashima. Francisco Cerundolo.

Captain: Andre Agassi
Vice Captain: Patrick Rafter.

And yes — Andre Agassi versus Yannick Noah from the captain’s chairs.

Love that.

Team World arrive in London as defending champions after beating Europe 15-9 in San Francisco last year. Fritz defeated Alcaraz during that event and then beat Zverev in the decisive match to seal the Cup.

So Europe have unfinished business.Alex de Minaur is another player I will be watching closely. He won all three of his matches in San Francisco last year and was instrumental in Team World’s victory.

And then you throw Bublik into the Laver Cup environment.Entertainment guaranteed.

Why I Love The Laver Cup.The format just works.

Friday matches are worth one point.Saturday they become two points.Sunday — three points.

First team to 13 points wins. If somehow we get to 12-12 after the scheduled matches, we get a deciding doubles match.

That scoring system means the tournament stays alive.

You can dominate Friday and still find yourself in trouble on Sunday.And that’s where the pressure becomes Sublime.

The other thing I enjoy is seeing players who spend virtually the entire year trying to beat one another suddenly sitting courtside together, coaching, shouting, celebrating and figuring out doubles combinations.Normal tennis disappears for three days.

Alcaraz vs Fritz Again Please

If the tennis gods are listening…

Carlos Alcaraz vs Taylor Fritz.

Please.

There is history there now.

Alcaraz delivered the decisive victory for Europe in Berlin in 2024. Then Fritz turned the tables in San Francisco last year, beating Carlos before helping Team World retain the trophy.

Another chapter at The O2 would do nicely.

And I’d also love to see Alcaraz and Ruud together in doubles again. They come into London unbeaten in their two previous Laver Cup doubles matches as a partnership.

The O2 Factor

London understands big tennis. And The O2 understands theatre.

This is the same arena where Federer said goodbye to professional tennis in 2022, with Nadal alongside him and Djokovic and Murray also part of that extraordinary weekend.

Four years later, the Laver Cup is back.Different generation.

Different captains.Different story.But the same black court and that same feeling that the Laver Cup is a little different from anything else on the tennis calendar.

So Who Takes The Cup?

I’m not calling the winner before the first ball.

Europe have Alcaraz, Zverev and plenty of depth.

World have Fritz, De Minaur, some dangerous match-ups and the confidence of arriving as defending champions. And remember — Team World have won three of the last four editions.

What I do expect is a weekend where Sunday’s three-point matches become massive.

Friday starts the story.Saturday changes it.Sunday can turn everything upside down.

That is the beauty of the Laver Cup.

London.The O2.

Europe vs The World.

Alcaraz. Zverev. Fritz. De Minaur. Ruud. Bublik.No ordinary tennis weekend.

The Laver Cup is here.

Vamos.

Lets Go.

Sublime Tennis Incoming.

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