SEPT 25 - 27, 2026 | LONDON
When Roger Federer and Tony Godsick discussed how to honor tennis legend Rod Laver while driving back to their hotel at the 2013 Rolex Shanghai Masters, they could hardly have imagined what would follow.
Their conversation sparked the idea for the Laver Cup, which has since grown into a nine-edition event and returned to The O2 in London for a second time. Now, preparations are underway for the 10th edition, which will take place at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles in 2027
“We knew that people would buy tickets because we had the biggest stars in the world playing, but we had no idea if the fans would come back,” said Laver Cup Chairman Tony Godsick in London, where Team Europe captured its sixth title.
Reflecting on the competition’s rapid success, Godsick and Laver Cup CEO Steve Zacks pointed to several factors: the players’ commitment, the competition format, and the appeal of the host cities and the arenas that bring the event to life.
The idea of rivals becoming teammates is central to the format, “I think that’s one of the things that makes relationships that extend beyond the competition,” Godsick said.
Some players value the opportunity to learn from the captains; for others, the attraction is the intensity of the competition or the chance to play in a venue they might not otherwise experience, such as Carlos Alcaraz making his first appearance at The O2.
Competing for a team is also a huge drawing card in a [largely] individual sport.
“We’ve learned from all the players that it’s a different kind of pressure than they have when they’re competing for themselves,” Zacks said. “They’re competing for their teammates, for a legendary Captain such as Andre Agassi, who wants to win very badly. It’s a very different thing.
“It’s not the same as every other tournament on the tour. When you put six incredible athletes against six others for one prize, they really go at it.”
Soon-to-be world No.1-ranked Alexander Zverev, who has now competed in a record-setting seven editions, and Casper Ruud, who made his sixth consecutive appearance in London, are among the players who have embraced the event.
“The Laver Cup, we saw that over the years, is a different type of event,” Zverev said. “The results that happen here sometimes don’t happen on the normal tour, but here, all of a sudden, people come alive, play their best tennis.”
Laver Cup aims to offer something different from the regular Tour experience.
“We want to do things and present the players in an atmosphere that you don’t normally see,” Godsick said. “We’re not trying to replace what already goes on. We’re trying to be additive, and I think we’re doing that.”
When Laver Cup launched, organizers were approaching potential destinations. Now, cities are increasingly approaching Laver Cup, keen to bring the competition to their markets or welcome it back.
Los Angeles is a natural next step, with the 2027 event arriving amid heightened attention on the city ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
“Next year we’ll be at Intuit Dome. These players have never had an opportunity to play in some of these incredible arenas,” Godsick said.
One of the world’s newest major arenas, Intuit Dome offers an opportunity to build on the event’s established presentation while exploring new ways to engage fans.
“Intuit Dome is one of the most innovative and award-winning venues,” Zacks said. “It is built for the fan experience. It’s much more vertical, so the views are fantastic for tennis. It features a massive double-sided digital display, the Halo board, that is best-in-class.”
Choosing a host city involves balancing the needs of the players, fans, broadcasters, sponsors and event operations. An arena must accommodate the black Laver Cup court while providing sufficient seating and sightlines for a premium live experience. It also needs the technical infrastructure to support the event’s lighting, digital presentation and broadcast production, as well as the space and facilities required to stage the competition.
All of which makes Intuit Dome a natural fit, even more so with players who follow the NBA. “We find a lot of players love going to NBA arenas,” Zacks said. “They follow basketball, many of their favorite players are there, they know the history, so that makes it another exciting element.”
In other words, the ball is happily in their court.
