Laver Cup 2026 swung one way and then the other on Saturday at The O2 in London. Team World won both day session singles to go 5-3 up, before Carlos Alcaraz saved two match points against Taylor Fritz and Team Europe won the evening doubles to take a 7-5 lead into the final day.
Every Saturday match was worth two points. On Sunday each match is worth three, and the first team to 13 points lifts the trophy.
Team World strike first: Tien and de Minaur
Learner Tien, making his Team World debut, beat Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 in an hour and 35 minutes. The American lost his way in the second set but settled again in the match tiebreak.
“In this format, it doesn’t matter what the score is. Everyone still has a chance,” Tien said afterwards, crediting captain Andre Agassi’s encouragement from the bench.
Alex de Minaur then saved two match points of his own to beat Alexander Zverev 2-6, 7-6(5), 11-9, and suddenly Team World were in front.
Alcaraz vs Fritz: the match of the Laver Cup so far
Alcaraz took the first set 6-3, Fritz hit back to take the second 6-4, and the pair went deep into the match tiebreak. Fritz had two match points and couldn’t take either. Alcaraz closed it out 13-11 to level the tie at 5-5.
Zverev returned in the night’s final match, partnering Casper Ruud to a 6-4, 7-6(7) doubles win over Alexander Bublik and Brandon Nakashima. That put Europe back ahead at 7-5.
Laver Cup Sunday schedule and what each team needs
Play starts at 12pm BST (7am ET) on Sunday, September 27. The opening doubles pits Cobolli and Jakub Mensik against de Minaur and Fritz. If more matches are needed, Zverev plays Tien, Alcaraz meets de Minaur and Rafael Jodar faces Fritz, in that order.
With three points per match, Team Europe need two more wins to reach 13. Team World need three. If the teams finish level at 12-12, a deciding doubles match is played.
Catch up on Friday: Alcaraz and Mensik’s doubles win put Team Europe 3-1 up on Day 1.
