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Europe storms to 3-1 lead after Day 1

By Drooid · Sep 26, 2026, 2:23 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Europe Leads 3-1

Europe leads World 3-1 after Day 1 of the 2026 Laver Cup in the United Kingdom.
Casper Ruud (Norway) defeated Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) 6-7(4), 6-4, 10-8 for Europe’s first point.
Rafael Jodar (Spain) beat Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) 6-2, 6-3, raising Europe’s lead to 2-1.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik defeated Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4, moving Europe to 3-1.

Summary

Godsick predicts captaincy

Tony Godsick said Roger Federer will eventually captain the Laver Cup, though no timeline set.
Federer watched Day 1 from the O2 stands with rock star Bon Jovi, his first Laver Cup appearance since 2022.
Godsick praised captains Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter for taking the event seriously.
Former champions John McEnroe and Björn Borg are cited as possible future captains under the event’s flexible rules.

History

Historical Context

The Laver Cup began in September 2017 at Prague’s O2 Arena, where Team Europe beat Team World 15-9, establishing a continental advantage that has persisted. Held annually and sanctioned by the ATP since 2019, the 2026 edition returns to London’s O2, with Europe leading 3-1 after Day 1 and Roger Federer poised to captain.

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Europe Leads 3-1

Europe leads World 3-1 after Day 1 of the 2026 Laver Cup in the United Kingdom.
Casper Ruud (Norway) defeated Francisco Cerundolo (Argentina) 6-7(4), 6-4, 10-8 for Europe’s first point.
Rafael Jodar (Spain) beat Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) 6-2, 6-3, raising Europe’s lead to 2-1.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik defeated Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4, moving Europe to 3-1.

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