SEPT 25 - 27, 2026 | LONDON
The ‘buy-in’. It’s a catchphrase that surfaces and resurfaces when it comes to all things Laver Cup.
Patrick Rafter, the two-time US Open champion and former world No. 1, says it made all the difference last year in San Francisco, when as a first-year vice-captain he helped guide a supposedly overmatched Team World to its third title in four years. It was the buy-in from both rookie captain Andre Agassi and his players, he insists, that carried them to a 15-9 comeback victory against Team Europe.
That buy-in apparently lasts all year long.
“For the last six or eight months, Andre and I talk. He calls me all the time, ‘What’s going on?’ ‘Who’s on the team?’ That’s how passionate he is about it. When we get to the last couple of weeks, it can get explosive at times. Our conversations get really full-on,” said the Australian, 53.
“What it shows is how much this guy puts into it consistently throughout the year. You think this is a one-week event, but it’s not. In his head, it’s going all the time. It doesn’t have to be a big thing for Andre, but it is, and I just love the whole passion of it. Then these guys all come in and they play and they buy in. And that’s why we’re here.”
Agassi and Rafter’s 2026 roster, headed by veterans Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Francisco Cerundolo, and bolstered by Laver Cup newcomers Alexander Bublik, Learner Tien and Brandon Nakashima, will begin its title defense on Friday at the O2 in London
They’ll need that buy-in on enemy turf, with Yannick Noah and Team Europe counting on the home-court advantage.
“The main goal is to lift the Laver Cup trophy and to bring it back to Europe. We do it as a team.” — Alexander Zverev
“I think we have great champions on this team who all know what it takes to win,” said Alexander Zverev, fresh off his second major singles title of the year at the US Open. “Personally, it was quite a satisfying year, but we’re here at the Laver Cup as a team. For us, the main goal is to lift the Laver Cup trophy and to bring it back to Europe. We do it as a team, we do it as a group of players. Hopefully, we can achieve that goal.”
Zverev has been part of this global competition from the very start, dating back to when the event was launched in Prague in 2017. He is joined by Carlos Alcaraz, Flavio Cobolli, Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik and Casper Ruud. The seven major singles titlist Alcaraz is the de facto team leader, though the Spaniard insists it’s a collective effort.
“For every team, there has to be a leader, but on this team, there is no leader,” he said. “Everybody is one of the best players in the world, so everybody comes in the same way. We’re trying to help each other the best way we can. So I don’t see myself as a leader. I’m just trying to do my best, trying to help these guys, help the team as best as I can.”
“The first few days, we sit back and watch. Now it’s time to start pulling the trigger.” — Team World Vice-Captain Patrick Rafter
Noah’s coaching style is a contrast to that of his counterpart. While Agassi flashes an on-court freneticism during both practice sessions and match play, Noah likens his role to that of courtside comforter (and occasional snack provider).
“My job is very easy,” said the 1983 Roland Garros champ. “Basically, I’m sitting in probably the best seat of the whole stadium, looking at champions playing. Sometimes they come to me. I believe that if I make them feel comfortable, slightly happy, they will play well, because they don’t need me to play well.”
“Sometimes they put pressure on me, because sometimes they need bananas and I don’t have some,” he added with a laugh. “But I’m very happy and grateful to be here with them. As I told them last night, I’m very happy to be part of this journey.”
Noah will once again look to Ruud to get things started on Day 1. The three-time Grand Slam finalist will take on Cerundolo in a rematch of their Laver Cup 2024 opener in Berlin.
“Yannick particularly wanted me to start maybe because of the experience,” said the new husband-father Ruud. “I said, ‘I’m ready to hopefully get a good start for Team Europe’. I have done that I think four times before in the Laver Cup weekend. It’s nothing new to me. I’ll be ready. Hopefully, we bring on a good match and get Europe off to the best start possible.”
For their part, Rafter and Agassi will continue to nurture that buy-in that led to the Laver Cup title in their first attempt.
“The first few days, we sit back and watch. Now it’s time to start pulling the trigger,” said Rafter. “This is when Andre’s energy on the court is amazing. It’s unmatched anywhere. The balance is with me trying to bring a little bit of calmness every now and then when we need it.”
