Although it’s only existed for less than a decade, the Laver Cup is already a key fixture in the ATP’s annual calendar. The tournament takes place approximately a fortnight after the US Open each year, with many of the strongest players at Flushing Meadows also featuring in this event.
The brainchild of retired superstar Roger Federer, entrepreneur Jorge Paulo Lemann, and the Tennis Australia governing body, it takes inspiration from golf’s Ryder Cup. However, rather than staging a meeting between Europe and America, the former battles it out with a team of representatives from any of the world’s other continents.
Since its inaugural edition in 2017, the Laver Cup has produced a series of memorable moments. It’s also provided a platform for the world’s best emerging talent to showcase their capabilities, while helping to further enhance the reputation of some of the sport’s most successful players.
Fans travel from far and wide to catch a glimpse of this awesome spectacle, which has been staged in eight different cities to date. In fact, this year marks the first occasion in which the tournament – named in honour of Australian icon Rod Laver – has visited the same city twice. With the two teams taking turns to assume hosting duties, the venue alternates between a European and ‘rest of world’ location each year.
We reflect on the history of the Laver Cup in the sections below, citing past winners, former captains, important stats, and a handful of the tournament’s most successful players.
Past winners
Having clinched the Laver Cup on five previous occasions, Team Europe are the competition’s most successful outfit.
It took Team World until 2022 to get their hands on the trophy, after the Europeans registered four consecutive triumphs early on. That breakthrough victory came at London’s O2 Arena, the same venue that will host this year’s instalment of Laver Cup action.
The highest winning margin was registered in 2021, when Team Europe men hammered their esteemed opponents 14-1 on foreign soil. John Isner and Denis Shapovalov conspired to secure Team World’s solitary point in Boston, beating Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev in a lengthy doubles encounter. This one-sided event played out a year on from the tournament’s only cancellation, which was caused by the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Björn Borg and John McEnroe – who shared one of the most famous on-court rivalries in the sport’s history – initially captained the two teams, battling it out from the sidelines across the Laver Cup’s opening seven editions. With Borg at the helm for all five of Europe’s successes, the Swedish hero can now enjoy eternal bragging rights over his great adversary.
Team World has consistently featured a high percentage of American players, with the likes of Jack Sock, John Isner, and Taylor Fritz all contributing heavily to the cause. This disproportionate representation has undoubtedly influenced host city locations, as only one non-American venue has welcomed a visiting Team Europe outfit through its doors. Perhaps this is a tactic that Team World should adopt more often, given that Vancouver’s Rogers Arena was the site of their most convincing Laver Cup triumph.
The hosts have won each of the last three editions, resulting in Team World increasing their current trophy haul to three. Will this pattern continue into 2026?
Previous results:
2017: Team Europe 15-9 Team World (O2 Arena, Prague)
2018: Team World 8-13 Team Europe (United Center, Chicago)
2019: Team Europe 13-11 Team World (Palexpo, Geneva)
2020: Postponed (originally due to be held at TD Garden, Boston)
2021: Team World 1-14 Team Europe (TD Garden, Boston)
2022: Team Europe 8-13 Team World (O2 Arena, London)
2023: Team World 13-2 Team Europe (Rogers Arena, Vancouver)
2024: Team Europe 13-11 Team World (Uber Arena, Berlin)
2025: Team World 15-9 Team Europe (Chase Center, San Francisco)
National representation
If you also account for the participants in this year’s edition, a staggering 25 different nations have been represented at the Laver Cup.
As alluded to previously, no country has produced more Laver Cup competitors than the USA. A group of 11 Americans has combined to rack up 28 individual appearances, with debutants Brandon Nakashima and Learner Tien adding their names to that list in 2026.
The next closest country with regard to this metric is Spain, who have contributed four players to the Laver Cup population since its inception in 2017. Two of those players will be in attendance at the 02 Arena this weekend, as Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Jódar – another newcomer to the event – showcase their considerable talents in European blue.
As a consequence of America’s overwhelming presence, only players from seven other countries have featured for Team World. This year marks the first occasion in which Kazakhstan will be represented, after Alexander Bublik was called up by Team World captain Andre Agassi. The 29-year-old was born in Russia, but switched international allegiances to neighbouring Kazakhstan in 2016.
Key records and stats
There have been any number of epic performances at the Laver Cup, many of which are now captured in the record books.
Despite its relatively short history, the tournament has been won by four players on at least three occasions. Although no player has participated in every single edition, the Laver Cup also boasts a wily group of veterans that includes the likes of co-creator Roger Federer, experienced American Frances Tiafoe, and a sizeable cross-section of this year’s contingent.
We’ve highlighted a few of the most noteworthy Laver Cup stats, alongside a couple of unique achievements in the tournament’s history:
Most appearances: 7 (Alexander Zverev). The reigning French and U.S. Open champion was absent from the competition in 2022 and 2023, but has featured in all other editions of the Laver Cup and will once again represent Team Europe this year.
Most Laver Cup wins: 5 (Alexander Zverev). Last year’s defeat in San Francisco was the first time Zverev wasn’t part of the winning side at a Laver Cup event, after lifting the iconic trophy on five previous occasions.
Most matches played: 16 (Jack Sock and Alexander Zverev). While not quite as successful as his European counterpart, Jack Sock’s name is synonymous with the Laver Cup.
The retired American was a doubles specialist, winning a staggering nine Laver Cup ties alongside an on-court teammate. Given that he also registered one singles victory, Sock has won more matches than anyone else in the competition.
Most points won in a single tournament: 8 (Carlos Alcaraz, 2024). The Spaniard’s stunning performance in Berlin propelled Team Europe to victory, enabling captain Björn Borg to sign off in style. Incredibly, Alcaraz lost his opening match while competing with doubles partner Alexander Zverev, but bounced back to register three huge triumphs over the subsequent two days.
After joining forces with Casper Ruud to thrash Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, he then beat the latter in a singles contest. With Team Europe trailing Team World by one point heading into the final meeting of the tournament, the two-time Wimbledon champion held his nerve to overcome Taylor Fritz and earn the hosts a fifth Laver Cup triumph.
Most total points won in a single tournament without suffering defeat: 7 (Roger Federer, 2017 and Alex de Minaur, 2025). Although no player has accrued more points than Alcaraz in a single Laver Cup event, Roger Federer and Alex de Minaur were close to hitting the same benchmark without conceding a loss.
Federer recorded three wins out of three during the tournament’s 2017 edition, before de Minaur replicated this feat eight years later.
Most players that have featured at a single tournament: 14 (2022). With Roger Federer announcing he would retire following day one of the 2022 Laver Cup, Björn Borg knew he would need to draft in an alternate after the Swiss legend navigated the 1,750th and last match of his glittering ATP career. Rafael Nadal partnered Federer in Europe’s fourth match of the event, but later withdrew due to personal reasons.
That meant that two replacements were now required, enabling Cameron Norrie to join fellow substitute Matteo Berrettini in the field.