SEPT 19 - 21, 2025 | SAN FRANCISCO
Alexander Zverev has been a part of six Laver Cup contingents tracing back to the Team Europe vs. Team World showdown’s inaugural edition in Prague back in 2017.
That first year, he played alongside the likes of Big Three contemporaries Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The 28-year-old German has since been a teammate to everyone from Novak Djokovic to Carlos Alcaraz, between singles and doubles accounting for a Laver Cup-record 21 points. Each of those teams has had its own identity, says Zverev, its own character. The 2025 edition, headed by first-year captain Yannick Noah, is no exception.
“There have been very different kinds of teams,” observed Zverev, No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “Being part of a team with Roger and Rafa, whom I grew up watching all my life and idolizing, it was extremely special.”
“But I believe that this team can beat anyone,” he added. “Every single player on this team knows how to win big tournaments and big titles and big matches. For me, sitting on the bench while watching these guys is very, very comfortable. I have full trust in every single player.”
Zverev was referring to the reigning world No. 1 Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, as well as Laver Cup rookies Holger Rune, Jakub Mensik and Flavio Cobolli. They’re the clear favorites — on paper anyway. But Zverev’s captain says he’s not looking too far ahead. He’s just happy to still have his job.
“I’m not fired yet,” joked Noah, who took over from Swedish legend Bjorn Borg, who captained Team Europe to five titles in seven tries. It’s that kind of levity that’s kept the Team Europe locker room loose, the 1983 Roland Garros champ’s way of deflecting any pressure.
“For the team, it’s great to have those good vibes, that good energy before the practices, before the matches.” — Carlos Alcaraz on first-year Team Europe captain Yannick Noah
“It’s a great relationship so far,” said Alcaraz, who accounted for eight points between singles and double last year during his Laver Cup debut in Berlin. “He has a great energy. He’s funny, as well. For the team, it’s great to have those good vibes, that good energy before the practices, before the matches.”
“It will come down to whoever performs the best in the most important points. That’s where you like to show up and play good for your team,” said Ruud, who for the fourth time in five years will step into the leadoff spot for Team Europe on Day 1, when he faces American Reilly Opelka.
Even with Noah lightning the mood, Ruud says that with any team event, there are always some nerves. You’re not just playing for yourself, after all.
“It’s a little extra pressure, because you feel like you’re also playing for your teammates and your captains,” said the father-to-be. “You want to give your best. I’ve been on the winning side and the losing side, and winning is a much better feeling. I played ties where it’s been blowouts both ways. I have played ties when we were leading going into Day 3 and lost. Last year, we were down going into Day 3 and won.”
“We have a very strong team,” said Rune, No. 11 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “But we have to handle it the right way. In the rankings, we might be the favorite, but Team World has some dangerous players. We just have to stay focused on our game, to just go with our flow.”
