Alexander Zverev capped a breakout season by delivering the decisive singles victory that gave Team Europe the Laver Cup title. Facing rising talent Learner Tien, Zverev won 7‑6 (3), 6‑3, pushing Europe’s total to 13 points and securing the cup with three matches still to play.
Season highlights and historic record
Earlier in 2026, Zverev captured his first two Grand Slam crowns by winning the French Open and the U.S. Open. The Laver Cup win adds another milestone to a year that has seen him dominate the sport. He now holds the most Laver Cup singles victories, with eight, and has participated in every European triumph since the event’s inception.
Team Europe’s performance
Europe’s 13‑5 win marked a strong showing after Team World’s victory in San Francisco the previous year. Zverev’s win came after a nine‑match singles winning streak that ended with a loss to Alex de Minaur on Saturday. The German praised the team atmosphere, saying, “Winning as a team – there’s no better feeling in sports. We don’t have enough of it in tennis.”
Match details and reactions
After the match, Zverev noted the importance of the team effort: “I haven’t won a Laver Cup match in two years, so I’m happy I did it today. Massive credit to the entire Team World – they pushed us all the way again. We had a great team chemistry.” Team World captain Andre Agassi, using Zverev’s nickname, congratulated him during the trophy presentation: “Congratulations, Sascha, on the crazy year.”
Impact on the tournament
Zverev’s victory meant that Carlos Alcaraz did not need to play the final singles match against De Minaur, as Europe had already clinched the required 13 points. Earlier in the competition, Europe extended its lead with a doubles win by Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik over De Minaur and Taylor Fritz.
The Laver Cup awards one point for each Friday match, two points for Saturday, and three points for Sunday, with the first team to reach 13 points declared the winner.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
