Ruud and Cerundolo Rematch Highlights Laver Cup 2026 Day 1 Lineups in London

Team Europe and Team World open the ninth Laver Cup on Friday at The O2 in London, with Casper Ruud taking over Francisco Cerundolo within the day session’s opener and a doubles that includes Jakub Mensik and Carlos Alcaraz closing out the night time.

The four-match Day 1 card begins at 1 p.m. Ruud and Cerundolo will meet for the tenth time. Cerundolo holds a 5-4 edge within the all-time head-to-head. He has gained their final three conferences, together with the opening singles on the 2024 Laver Cup in Berlin, 6-4, 6-4. Cerundolo, ranked No. 22 and enjoying for Team World for the fourth consecutive 12 months, carries a 3-1 document from his earlier Laver Cup appearances.

The second day-session match sends Mensik towards Brandon Nakashima. Their solely prior assembly went to Nakashima — a 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 consequence within the Washington spherical of 16 earlier this 12 months. Nakashima, 25 and ranked No. 16, arrives having gone 12-3 throughout the summer time, reaching the ultimate in Montreal and the semifinals in Cincinnati.

“I’m feeling very confident right now,” Nakashima informed the Laver Cup. “It’s been a great summer playing a lot of matches for me. So it should be good to see how I play against all these top guys at this event.”

The night time session, beginning at 7 p.m., opens with Rafael Jodar of Team Europe towards Team World’s Alexander Bublik — a primary profession assembly between two gamers every making their Laver Cup debut. Jodar, 20, rose 311 rating spots in a single 12 months to succeed in No. 14 and gained his first tour title in Marrakech. Bublik, at present No. 21, cracked the Top 10 for the primary time this season and arrived in London casting himself in a selected function on the squad.

“I just came here to bring the good tennis and bring some laughs in,” Bublik informed the Laver Cup. “I’m the trash-talk guy.”

Team World captain Andre Agassi mentioned that vitality serves a function past leisure.

“Team camaraderie goes a long way out there,” Agassi informed the Laver Cup. “So does humor. Humor can be a great icebreaker.”

The night time session closes with a doubles: Mensik and Alcaraz for Europe towards Bublik and Taylor Fritz for World. Mensik and Alcaraz performed collectively eventually 12 months’s Laver Cup, defeating Alex de Minaur and Alex Michelsen 7-6(7), 6-4.

Both captains are of their second 12 months within the function, having every taken the place for the primary time on the 2025 version in San Francisco. Yannick Noah leads Team Europe alongside vice-captain Tim Henman; Agassi directs Team World with Patrick Rafter as his deputy.

Team World is the defending champion, having gained in San Francisco final 12 months 15-9 for its third title in 4 editions. Team Europe has gained 5 of the eight earlier editions. The occasion runs by way of Sunday, with every match price one level on Day 1, two on Day 2, and three on Day 3; the primary workforce to 13 wins. Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul have been absent from Team World’s roster — Shelton withdrew for relaxation following the US Open and Davis Cup, and Paul pulled out with an elbow damage from the US Open. London final hosted the Laver Cup in 2022.