London – The opening day of the 2026 Laver Cup saw Team Europe surge ahead with a 3-1 lead over defending champions Team World. The decisive moment came when World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz teamed with Czech rising star Jakub Mensik to defeat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in a straight‑sets doubles match at The O2.
Alcaraz, playing his second tournament after a four‑month injury layoff following the US Open, found his rhythm early. After fending off three early break points, he unleashed an overhead smash that secured the first break of the set. The pair broke again early in the second set and held serve to close out the match, with Mensik serving out the final game.
Alcaraz’s Perspective
“I’m just trying to have fun in every place that I go and on every court that I play on,” Alcaraz said after the win. “I don’t usually play doubles … I just try to enjoy and be better at things. I use doubles to try and improve my tennis, a couple of adjustments. Having a partner like Jakub, it’s really easy to have fun on the court.”
Europe’s Early Points
Europe’s lead was built on four matches on Friday. Norwegian Casper Ruud opened the night with a hard‑fought win over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, edging a tiebreak 7-4 after a 6-7(4) first set and then taking the second set 6-4, 10-8 in the match tiebreak.
Team World answered back when American Brandon Nakashima defeated Mensik 6-1, 3-6, 10-7, but Europe reclaimed the advantage when Spanish rookie Rafael Jodar beat Bublik 6-2, 6-3. Jodar, who was watched from the stands by legends Roger Federer and John McEnroe, expressed excitement at the presence of the tennis greats.
“It’s a pleasure that they are in the stands watching me,” Jodar said. “It’s a pleasure to see them watching these types of matches.”
Team World’s Reaction
Team World captain Andre Agassi praised Nakashima’s composure, joking, “This guy… I’m not convinced he’s real. I think he’s AI,” as the American maintained his poise under pressure.
Format and Stakes
The three‑day Laver Cup pits six European players against six from the rest of the world. Points are worth one on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday, with the first team to reach 13 points claiming the title.
With Europe holding a 3-1 lead after Friday’s matches, the competition is set for an exciting weekend as both sides vie for the coveted cup.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
