Laver Cup 2026: Alcaraz, Zverev Lead Europe to London

The 2026 Laver Cup begins September 25 at London's O2 Arena, with Team Europe's Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev headlining a field built almost entirely around this year's Grand Slam contenders. It is one of the last events on the calendar before the off-season, and with Zverev defending his first major title and Alcaraz continuing his comeback from a wrist injury, it doubles as an early look at two of the biggest names heading into Roland-Garros 2027.

What Happened

Team Europe captain Yannick Noah named a six-man roster of Alcaraz, Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Jakub Menšík, Casper Ruud, and 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jódar, who makes his Laver Cup debut. Team World captain Andre Agassi countered with Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Alexander Bublik, Brandon Nakashima, and Francisco Cerúndolo. Both squads had late changes: Nakashima replaced Ben Shelton on September 17, and Cerúndolo stepped in for Tommy Paul, who withdrew with an elbow injury picked up at the US Open, the second straight year a US Open injury has cost him a Laver Cup spot. The event runs three days, Friday through Sunday, with matches worth one, two, and three points on each successive day and the winning team needing 13 points overall.

A Rising Name to Watch

Jódar's selection is the most notable storyline outside the two Grand Slam champions. He entered 2026 outside the top 600 in the world, turned pro in December 2025, and has since climbed as high as world No. 14 after winning three ATP Challenger titles and qualifying for the Next Gen ATP Finals. Playing alongside Alcaraz and Zverev in his Laver Cup debut puts him in front of a global audience for the first time, and gives Roland-Garros 2027 watchers a new name to track between now and May.

Team World Defends the Trophy

Team World enters as the defending champion after beating Europe 15-9 in San Francisco last September, its third title in four editions since Europe won the first four meetings. De Minaur and Fritz have both reached major semifinals this season, Bublik is one of the tour's most unpredictable shot-makers, and Tien makes his second Laver Cup appearance after breaking into the top 30. Nakashima and Cerúndolo round out the squad as the two late replacements, giving Agassi's side a mix of proven form and short-notice depth as it tries to hold the trophy in London.

What It Means for Roland-Garros 2027

Zverev arrives in London off his maiden Grand Slam title, won at Roland-Garros in June, and treats the Laver Cup as one more competitive match before turning to defending it. Alcaraz, who missed Roland-Garros 2026 entirely with a wrist injury before completing his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, gets another data point on his health and form after his run to the US Open. Both will carry whatever happens in London into the winter, and how each looks is the kind of thing that shapes early expectations for the 2027 clay season. Catch up on how Zverev won his title in our 2026 French Open results recap, and on Alcaraz's build-up to his own title bid in the Sinner vs. Alcaraz rivalry hub. See the rest of the contenders on our 2027 player entry list and early Roland-Garros 2027 odds.

Planning Ahead for Roland-Garros 2027

With Zverev, Alcaraz, and a new generation of contenders like Jódar all converging on the same event before the off-season, the 2027 clay season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years. Browse available French Open 2027 tickets at GoalTickets to start planning your trip, and see our Carlos Alcaraz player profile and champions history page to get to know the contenders before Roland-Garros returns.

Reporting on the Laver Cup 2026 roster verified against the ATP Tour, the official Laver Cup website, and Yahoo Sports.