SEPT 25 - 27, 2026 | LONDON
The ninth edition of the Laver Cup kicks off Friday in London at The O2 with two talented young stars waiting in the wings. The 2026 alternates are Arthur Fery for Team Europe and Ignacio Buse for Team World.
Alternates are part of the official Laver Cup Team roster, participating in all activities, sitting on the bench courtside and practicing to be ready to step in should a teammate be forced to withdraw during the competition, which takes place September 25-27.
Fery joins Team Europe’s Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Flavio Cobolli, Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik and Casper Ruud, led by captain Yannick Noah and vice-captain Tim Henman. A local Londoner, Fery had a breakthrough season in 2026, reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon as a wildcard.
Buse joins a Team World squad that includes Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Learner Tien, Alexander Bublik, Brandon Nakashima and Francisco Cerundolo, led by captain Andre Agassi and vice-captain Patrick Rafter. The 22-year-old hails from Peru and has won two titles this year, raising his ranking to No.35.
Fery Returns Home for Team Europe
Fery, who only played his first full year on tour last year, started the 2026 season ranked No.185 and now sits at No.36. At Wimbledon, he became the fifth British man in the Open era to reach the semifinals and only the second wildcard ever to get that far (after Goran Ivanisevic in 2001). The 24-year-old beat Cobolli along the way before losing to Zverev — both of whom are now his Team Europe teammates.
“I hope that I’m going to be able to have some great conversations with all the other players there, and get some great training in whether I’m playing on the court or not,” Fery said. “Regardless, it’s going to be great spending time around the top players in the world, and also learning from them.”
The British No. 1 will feel right at home all week long, with his residence at nearby Wimbledon.
“It’s really special for me,” Fery said. “I grew up going to The O2, and now playing for Team Europe in the Laver Cup there is really special in front of all the British fans.”
Along with teammate Jodar, Fery brings college experience, having played four seasons at Stanford before graduating in 2024. As a sophomore, he became Stanford’s first No.1-ranked singles player in the country since Bob Bryan.
“I can be a good team player as well as an individual player, because it’s definitely different in a team environment,” Fery said. “You’ve got to support each other and play for the team, not for yourself as much. I’m used to that with college, so that’s already a good step in the right direction for me, and I’m sure that will help me. I’ll be ready to support my teammates from the bench if that’s what’s required from me.”
Buse Eager to Experience Team World
Like Fery, Buse only made his ATP Tour debut last year, yet the 22-year-old is also already ranked inside the Top 35. In Hamburg, he made an unexpected run to the ATP 500 title as a qualifier, complete with wins over Team Europe’s Cobolli and Mensik. He won his second title at the ATP 250 in Winston-Salem by defeating Fery in the final, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history.
Buse is thrilled to get to experience the atmosphere of the Laver Cup for the first time.
“Being surrounded by some of the best players in the world, I think there’s so much I can learn just by watching how they prepare, compete and handle everything around the game,” Buse said. “Having someone like Agassi as a coach is also an incredible opportunity, given all the experience he has.”
While Fery’s career followed the college route, Buse committed to the University of Georgia for 2023 before turning pro instead. He’s still passionate about being part of a team.
“Being Peruvian and South American, I really love team competitions and being part of a team,” he said. “I love that feeling of fighting together for something bigger than yourself. So whether I’m on court or supporting from the bench, I’ll bring a lot of energy, and we’re going to give everything we have, leave our voices out there and fight as hard as we can to win.”
Team World will start its defense of the Laver Cup against Team Europe when play begins on Friday at The O2.
