SEPT 25 - 27, 2026 | LONDON
With World No.13 Casper Ruud confirmed as Team Europe’s final player for Laver Cup London, one of the competition’s most enduring figures is back. The 27-year-old Norwegian will make his sixth appearance, second only to teammate Alexander Zverev’s seven.
Ruud will become the only player to compete six times in a row, with World No.10 Taylor Fritz poised to reach six non-consecutive appearances for Team World at The O2 in London from September 25-27, 2026.
“I definitely feel like you can call me a veteran now,” Ruud said. “This is the sixth time — I am not the oldest, but one of the older ones in the team. Sasha and I, I’m sure we will do our best to treat the younger guys in a good way, and a couple of guys have been here before, so they know what they’re coming to.”
Ruud made his debut in 2021 when he helped Team Europe win the trophy in Boston, and he was also part of the winning European team in Berlin in 2024.
“When I’m asked to play for Team Europe, I’m always going to be there and give my best effort,” Ruud said. “It’s just a fun, different event to everything else that we have. It’s a really enjoyable week for us in a busy and long year.”
Zverev and Ruud will be joined on Team Europe by World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz, World No.9 Flavio Cobolli, World No.17 Jakub Mensik and World No.24 Rafael Jodar. Jodar will be the youngest player in the field as he makes his debut along with Team World rookies Learner Tien and Alexander Bublik.
“For Rafa, just try to enjoy the moment,” said Ruud, of his advice for the youngster. “I think he’s very new, obviously, to the game and really introduced himself to the world of tennis this year. I’m sure he will do great, seeing what he has achieved already as a young player. He’s not unfamiliar with team tennis and team events. He came from college. So I’m sure he’ll be the perfect fit for Team Europe this year.”
Returning to The O2
Though winning Laver Cup Boston 2021 was a fantastic debut for Ruud, his second appearance the following year in London has stayed with him.
“I have incredible memories, and had an incredible experience in The O2,” Ruud said. “Obviously, it was special. It was Roger [Federer]’s retirement, and everyone in the team was super excited to be there to support him, but also try to get a win for the team, which we unfortunately didn’t. But it was still an unforgettable week for me — something I will remember for the rest of my life, definitely… I’m looking forward to coming back.”
Ruud will be joined by four returning teammates: Zverev, Alcaraz, Mensik and Cobolli. Though primarily a singles star with 14 titles and a career-high world ranking of No.2, Ruud has made an impact in doubles at Laver Cup. Partnering with Alcaraz, he sparked Team Europe’s comeback victory on Sunday in Berlin 2024 (the duo also won their doubles rubber in San Francisco 2025).
“We have a good record going, so why not make it three in a row?” Ruud said of reuniting with Alcaraz. “I think it works well between us because we know each other quite well. I try to bring out the best in him, which is not that difficult because he’s incredible, and he brings out some of the best in me. I think that’s what you want in a doubles partnership, [plus] good chemistry and we’re having fun.”
Preparing for Team World
They’ll face a Team World squad featuring Fritz, World No.6 Alex de Minaur, World No.8 Ben Shelton, World No.11 Alexander Bublik, World No.16 Learner Tien and World No.21 Tommy Paul.
“On paper, [Team World] could look stronger than ever, and knowing all of these guys, it is definitely one of the stronger teams that they have ever put up,” Ruud said. “They did win last year, so we are definitely eager to get some revenge, and they did win the last time as well when we played in London, so we really want to avenge the loss back in 2022, and see if we can win it this year.”
Ruud returns to The O2 armed with more experience and a new perspective, having become a father in January to a baby girl, Camilla, and having married longtime partner Maria Galligani in June. He jokingly referred to Camilla as a “good luck charm” earlier this year when he reached the ATP Masters 1000 final in Rome.
“We’ve had [Camilla] come to a few tournaments and mixing the professional life of tennis with the personal life with, now a daughter, can be challenging at times, but we do really well,” Ruud said. “It’s been a really fun and emotional, beautiful year for us off the court. It’s been nothing but joy so far, so I hope that keeps going.”
Ruud is competing this week at the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal, taking place August 2-13.
