Alcaraz returns as Agassi leads Team World's Laver Cup
Carlos Alcaraz spearheads Europe's Laver Cup challenge in London after a wrist injury, while Andre Agassi captains a Team World side seeking a second
Andre Agassi captains Team World in their defence of the Laver Cup title this weekend in London, aiming for a second consecutive victory after last year's win in San Francisco. Carlos Alcaraz returns from a wrist injury to lead the European team alongside Alexander Zverev.
Yannick Noah is the captain of Team World, with Pat Rafter serving as vice-captain. The eight-time major winner Agassi replaced John McEnroe as captain last year.
Alcaraz returns to lead Europe after Wimbledon and Roland Garros absence
Carlos Alcaraz makes his competitive return after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury. His last tournament before the US Open was the Madrid Open in early May. The European side's hopes rest heavily on the young Spaniard and German Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz has spoken about the unique appeal of the team environment. "We are not used to playing team events and for me, I love team events," he said.
Laver Cup format and stakes set for ninth edition in London
The ninth edition of the Ryder Cup-style tennis event takes place this weekend at The O2 in London. The format pits six European players against six from the rest of the world over three days of singles and doubles matches. Points increase in value each day, with the first team to reach 13 points claiming the title.
| Day | Points per match win |
|---|---|
| One | 1 |
| Two | 2 |
| Three | 3 |
All 12 players competing in the current edition are ranked inside the world's top 22.
Team World favoured despite Europe's historical edge
Although Europe has been the favourite in virtually every previous edition, Team World now holds the recent advantage. They have won three of the last four Laver Cup tournaments, including their most recent victory in 2023.
Players voice concerns over tennis schedule and Alcaraz's late-match struggles
Andre Agassi has joined players like Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in criticising the sport's gruelling 11-month season. The season runs from the Australian Open in January to the Davis Cup Finals in late November. Agassi made a public statement urging tennis executives to implement a proper off-season, arguing that 'less is more' for player scheduling and longevity.
Alcaraz's own season was disrupted by injury, and he faced an extreme schedule at the recent US Open, where his quarter-final defeat finished at 3:34am local time. He told reporters that playing so late was 'too much' and advocated for a curfew on all tour matches, suggesting a maximum finish time of 11pm. He argued that earlier matches would have drawn bigger crowds.
The Laver Cup will conclude this weekend with the first team to accumulate 13 points winning the title.
