Team Europe reclaimed the Laver Cup crown on Sunday at the O2 Arena in London, thanks to a decisive victory by the newly‑crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev, who overcame Australian youngster Learner Tien to seal a 13‑5 overall win. The German star, fresh from his French Open and US Open triumphs earlier in the season, lived up to the lofty label of "best player in the world" and delivered the decisive point that handed Team Europe the trophy while giving his rival, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, a day off the court. Zverev clinched the final match of the day’s schedule in straight sets, 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑3, wrapping up the competition for Europe.
In post‑match comments, he reflected on his personal milestone, noting, "I hadn't won a match here in two years, so I’m thrilled to finally break that streak today." He also praised the effort of Team World, acknowledging their role in pushing Europe to its limits: "Massive credit to the entire Team World. They kept us on our toes all the way. They were champions last year, and this year we had great chemistry, so I’m really happy we came out on top." The build‑up to Zverev’s showdown had been dramatic. Alcaraz, fresh off a series of Grand Slam successes, had publicly tipped Zverev as a major threat ahead of the Ryder‑Cup‑style event.
Yet Zverev’s own campaign had been rocky: he fell short in a doubles match on Friday and squandered several match points against Alex de Minaur on Saturday. Alcaraz, however, seized the initiative late on day two, and Zverev later paired with Casper Ruud to win a crucial doubles rubber, narrowing Team Europe's deficit to just two points before the final day’s singles began. The momentum shift continued when the young Italian‑Czech duo of Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik found their rhythm after an early break, ultimately defeating the World side of de Minaur and American veteran Taylor Fritz 7‑5, 6‑3.
Their win pushed Europe’s lead to 10‑5 and set the stage for Zverev’s decisive encounter. Although Zverev faced a tough opponent in the unseeded Australian Learner Tien, he benefited from the safety net of having Alcaraz waiting in the lineup should the match have gone the other way.
The German’s experience shone through as he navigated a tightly contested first set before pulling away in the second. The victory not only secured the Laver Cup for Europe but also marked Zverev’s first singles win at the event since 2024, ending a run of three defeats in four editions for the continent.
The final match took place in front of tennis legend Roger Federer, who co‑founded the Laver Cup, and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, adding a touch of glamour to the proceedings. After the win, Zverev explained his confidence: "We had three chances to close it out in singles. Knowing Carlos is playing after me gave me a lot of confidence and a bit of freedom to swing my racket. It was still an incredibly tough match, credit to Learner for his fight." Alcaraz, a seven‑time Grand Slam champion who had returned to the US Open after a lengthy wrist injury lay‑off, was originally slated to face de Minaur later in the day.
Rising 20‑year‑old Spaniard Rafael Jodar was also scheduled to take on Fritz, but both matches became unnecessary once Zverev clinched the cup. In his closing remarks, Zverev added, "I’m very happy that I won and that Carlos is also happy I closed it out. It feels great to bring Europe back to the top after a few challenging years." Europe’s victory marks their sixth Laver Cup title out of the nine editions held so far, reaffirming the continent’s dominance in this elite team competition. In other tennis news, the Czech Republic continued its strong showing in international team events by defeating Ukraine to capture their 12th Billie Jean King Cup title in Shenzhen.
Karolina Muchova and Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova delivered a commanding 2‑0 lead in the final. Muchova dispatched Anhelina Kalinina 6‑2, 6‑3 in the opening singles rubber, while Noskova overcame world No.
7 Elina Svitolina 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑5) to seal the championship. The Czech Republic now ranks as the second‑most successful nation in the history of the competition, trailing only the United States, which boasts 18 titles. Ukraine, despite a valiant effort, remained without a Billie Jean King Cup crown. Fans looking to follow more tennis action can stream events without a contract on NOW or via the Sky Sports app, which will also carry live coverage of the upcoming WTA 1000 China Open starting Wednesday.