Alexander Zverev defeated Learner Tien in straight sets to complete Team Europe’s 13-5 victory over Team World and reclaim the Laver Cup at London’s O2 Arena.
Zverev won 7-6 (3), 6-3 in one hour and 49 minutes in the second match of the final day, ensuring that Europe reached the 13-point target with two scheduled singles matches still unplayed. The result gave Team Europe a sixth title in nine editions and returned the trophy after Team World’s win the previous year.
Europe had begun Sunday with a 7-5 advantage. With every final-day match worth three points, they required two wins from the four remaining fixtures. Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik supplied the first, before Zverev handled the closing assignment against Team World debutant Tien.
Cobolli and Mensik turn the final day
Cobolli and Mensik beat Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-3 in the opening doubles to move Europe from 7-5 to 10-5. Tennis Majors reported that the pair had not previously played a match together, making their selection a notable call by Europe’s captain Yannick Noah and vice-captain Tim Henman.
The doubles result was particularly important because it narrowed the task for Zverev and left Carlos Alcaraz available should Europe have needed another singles win. Henman said the decision to use Cobolli and Mensik had also reflected the physical demands of the preceding days and Alcaraz feeling the effects in his body.
Mensik said afterwards that the new partnership had needed time to settle, but had become more comfortable as the contest developed. Cobolli had lost to Tien on Saturday and said the doubles success gave him the chance to respond and lift the team’s energy.
The opening match also ensured Europe had a substantial margin before Zverev took the court. Tennis Majors reported that Zverev said having Alcaraz scheduled after him gave him greater confidence and freedom, while he still described the meeting with Tien as difficult. The first set went to a tie-break, but Zverev took it before establishing control in the second to end the contest.
That opening victory was the product of a position Europe had recovered during Saturday’s play. Team World had moved 5-3 ahead after Tien beat Cobolli and De Minaur overcame Zverev. Alcaraz then saved two match points against Fritz to level the contest, before Zverev and Casper Ruud won the evening doubles to establish Europe’s 7-5 overnight lead.
Zverev delivers after Saturday setback
Zverev’s win over Tien completed a swift final session, but followed a difficult Saturday singles defeat to De Minaur. He had held match points in that contest before losing, according to Sky Sports and Tennis Majors.
Against Tien, Zverev came through a first-set tie-break before taking control in the second set. The German said he was pleased to end a two-year wait for a Laver Cup match victory and credited Team World for pushing Europe closely. He also said the earlier doubles win had given him confidence because Europe retained further singles options behind him.
The clinching result meant that Alcaraz’s proposed match with De Minaur and Rafael Jodar’s fixture against Fritz were not required. Europe therefore closed the tie with two Sunday wins rather than needing a longer comeback from Team World.
Zverev has now featured in each of Team Europe’s six Laver Cup victories, while the BBC reported that his eight singles wins are the most by any player in the event. His latest success also underlined the value of Europe’s Saturday recovery: after Team World had briefly taken control, Alcaraz’s comeback and the Ruud-Zverev doubles result created the margin that Cobolli, Mensik and Zverev converted on the final day.