Team Europe reclaimed the Laver Cup trophy on Sunday evening at the O2 Arena in London, thanks to a decisive win by newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev over the young American contender Learner Tien. The final score of the overall tie was 13-5 in favour of Europe, marking another dominant performance by the continent's squad in this Ryder Cup‑style competition.
Zverev, who has already added the French Open and US Open titles to his résumé this season, lived up to the lofty expectations that many commentators have placed on him as the world’s leading player. By securing the decisive point in the second match of the concluding session, he not only clinched the cup for Europe but also gave his rival, Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaráz, a well‑earned day off from further pressure.
The German star sealed the victory with a straight‑sets win, 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑3, over Tien. After the match, Zverev reflected on his personal milestone, noting, "I haven't won a match here in two years, so I'm happy that I did it today." The win represented his first singles triumph at the Laver Cup since his debut appearance in 2024, underscoring his growth as a team competitor as well as an individual Grand Slam champion.
He also praised the effort of Team World, saying, "Massive credit to the entire Team World. They pushed us all the way again. They were champions last year. This year, we had great team chemistry and I'm very happy that we won." The acknowledgment highlighted the competitive balance that the event strives to achieve, with both continents fielding deep rosters capable of challenging each other on any given day.
In the days leading up to the final, Zverev had been the subject of considerable hype, especially after his recent Grand Slam successes. However, his campaign at the O2 was not without drama.
He suffered a loss in the doubles match on Friday and later saw several match points slip away during a tightly contested singles encounter with Alex de Minaur on Saturday. Despite those setbacks, Zverev rebounded strongly, partnering with fellow European Casper Ruud to capture the crucial doubles point that left Team Europe just two victories away from the championship heading into the Sunday session. The momentum continued when the young Italian‑Polish pair of Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik found their rhythm after an early break and overpowered the World side of de Minaur and American star Taylor Fritz, winning 7‑5, 6‑3. Their victory extended Europe’s lead to 10‑5, setting the stage for Zverev’s final match to become the decisive one.
Although Zverev faced a determined rookie in Learner Tien, he benefited from the strategic safety net of having Alcaraz ready to step in should the match have gone the other way. In the end, Zverev’s experience and composure proved enough to close out the tie, delivering the winning point in front of tournament co‑founder Roger Federer, who was seated alongside Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio, adding a touch of glamour to the proceedings. Alcaraz, a seven‑time Grand Slam champion who had returned to competition at the US Open after a prolonged wrist injury lay‑off, was originally slated to face de Minaur in a later singles match. Additionally, 20‑year‑old Spanish hopeful Rafael Jodar was scheduled to play against Fritz.
Neither of those matches were required once Zverev secured the decisive victory. Reflecting on his performance, Zverev said, "We had three chances to close it out in the singles.
Especially with Carlos playing after me, I think that gives me a lot of confidence and a little bit of freedom to play. But still, it was an incredibly tough match. Credit to Learner as well.
I think Carlos is also very happy that I closed it out. And me too, by the way!
I'm very happy that I won." With this triumph, Europe has now won six of the nine editions of the Laver Cup, reaffirming its status as the dominant force in this elite team competition. The event continues to showcase the depth of talent across both continents, providing fans with high‑stakes, emotionally charged tennis that goes beyond the individual accolades typically associated with the sport.
In other tennis news, the Czech Republic secured their 12th Billie Jean King Cup title in Shenzhen, defeating Ukraine with a commanding 2‑0 lead. Karolina Muchová opened the final by dispatching Anhelina Kalinina 6‑2, 6‑3, while Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková followed by beating world No.
7 Elina Svitolina 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑5). This victory places the Czech team as the second‑most successful nation in the history of the competition, trailing only the United States, which holds a record 18 titles.
Ukraine, on the other hand, was still seeking its inaugural crown. For fans looking to follow ongoing tennis action, live streams are available without a contract on NOW and the Sky Sports app, which also carries coverage of the upcoming WTA 1000 China Open starting Wednesday.
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