SEPT 25 - 27, 2026 | LONDON
There has been no shortage of drama since Laver Cup London 2026, with Team Europe’s Carlos Alcaraz rediscovering the joy of winning, and Alexander Zverev reaching a career-defining milestone as he prepares to become world No. 1.
After helping Team Europe secure its sixth Laver Cup title at The O2, both stars carried their momentum into the Asian swing, setting up an intriguing finish to the 2026 season.
Carlos Alcaraz’s return from a wrist injury gained momentum in London. After reaching the US Open quarterfinals, the Spaniard delivered two victories for Team Europe, winning both his singles and doubles matches as captain Yannick Noah and vice-captain Tim Henman guided the blue team to victory.
For Alcaraz, representing Europe provided another reminder of the enjoyment he finds in competing alongside his teammates. “These kind of weeks help me a lot to bring my joy back on the court, bring my joy back on playing tennis, and helps me a lot for the next tournaments when it is not team events,” Alcaraz said at The O2 in September.
That winning feeling followed him to Tokyo, where the 23-year-old successfully defended his ATP 500 title. It was his first tournament triumph since returning from injury and his first since lifting the trophy in Qatar in February.
“I didn’t know if I was going to win a tournament this soon or if I was going to win a tournament this season,” he said.
“Everything I’ve done to be in this position, everything I’ve worked for, for this moment, it feels even more special.”
The Tokyo victory was Alcaraz’s third title of the season and the 27th of his career. He arrived in Shanghai for his first ATP Masters 1000 appearance since returning from injury, sporting a new mustache and infectious positivity. “I always wanted to step on the court at least once with the mustache,” Alcaraz beamed.
“So, before Tokyo, it was, it was like, ‘Alright, if I win the tournament, we all have to do the mustache’.” His Shanghai campaign ended in the third round, but the Tokyo title marked an important step in his return to competition as he looks ahead to the final tournaments of the season.
Meanwhile, Zverev has secured one of the biggest milestones of his career. Next month the German will become the 30th member of the No. 1 Club and officially finish the year as world No.1. He has ended the season inside the Top 10 of the year-end PIF ATP Rankings eight times, including five finishes inside the Top.5. It will be the first time he finishes the year at the top.
“It’s been a fantastic season for me winning in Paris and New York and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true,” Zverev said. “So much work and effort have been put into achieving this goal, especially after coming back from the ankle injury. I look forward to finishing the season in style.”
Speaking to ATP.com in London, Team Europe captain Yannick Noah heaped praised on Zverev’s resilience and persistence to reach the top. “He’s been searching for it for so long, and it’s very inspiring to see a player being so close for so many years and never giving up,” Noah said. “All of a sudden, he had this little opening this year, and he was ready. He took it, and he deserves it.”
Added vice-captain Tim Henman: “A lot of it is about game style, strategy and confidence. I think 12 months ago, Sascha was low on all of them. But when you see the way he’s been stepping up in the big matches, he hasn’t always played his best, but he’s found a way to win. Then you give yourself a chance to play better. The way he’s played in the Slams speaks for itself.”
Zverev is also chasing his first Shanghai title and ninth ATP Masters 1000 crown. He arrived in Shanghai as the top seed and recorded his 60th tour-level victory of the season with a third-round win over Quentin Halys, matching his tally from 2018 putting him in reach of the 69 victories he recorded in 2024.
Zverev’s achievements extend to Laver Cup, where he became a six-time champion and the highest-scoring player in the competition’s history, with 26 points. He also leads the race to Turin, where the season-ending ATP Finals will bring together the top eight players in the PIF ATP Rankings from November 15–22.
Alcaraz has already qualified, while Alex de Minaur (10th place) is among those chasing a place along with Rafael Jodar (11th), both quarterfinalists in Shanghai. The Australian reached the final in Beijing before continuing his campaign in Shanghai, where he overcame an injury concern to progress.
