“We’re in trouble,” Pat Rafter admits as Team World face Laver Cup doubles crisis

Key Takeaways

• Pat Rafter admitted Team World are “in trouble” in doubles following the tournament withdrawals of key players Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul.
• Team Europe took a 3-1 lead after day 1 in London, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik sealing the doubles match against Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz.
• Rafter believes Team Europe are determined to reclaim the title after their 2025 collapse, observing: “I just feel like they’re going to be fired up this year.”

Doubles withdrawals leave Team World playing catch-up

Team World find themselves facing an uphill battle at the 2026 Laver Cup in London after falling behind Team Europe 3-1 at the end of the opening day. Vice captain Pat Rafter, working alongside captain Andre Agassi, openly expressed his anxiety about the squad’s composition following crucial late roster changes.

Speaking on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former world number 1 admitted that the loss of two key Americans dealt a massive blow to their tactical blueprint. “We got hurt this year; we lost Tommy Paul, who was going to be one of our doubles players, and Ben Shelton,” Rafter explained. “All of a sudden, we’re looking at our doubles lineup, going, ‘We’re in trouble’. It’s come back to bite us, unfortunately, because we were banking on those two guys.”

Shelton was forced out of the competition due to fatigue following a heavy schedule that featured both the US Open and the Davis Cup, opting to rest ahead of the Shanghai Masters and the European indoor events. Meanwhile, Paul was sidelined with an elbow injury sustained at Flushing Meadows. Their absence left a gaping hole in Team World’s options; Shelton boasts a 4-1 doubles record in the tournament, while Paul sits at 1-1.

Mind games and shifting momentum

The gap was exposed immediately on Friday evening when Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik teamed up to defeat Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz in straight sets, sealing Europe’s 3-1 cushion heading into Saturday. Bublik, who is 0-1 in Laver Cup doubles, is scheduled to pair with Brandon Nakashima on day 2 against Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev.

A year ago, Team World also trailed 3-1 after day 1 before sweeping all 4 matches on day 2. However, Rafter feels the psychological atmosphere is entirely different this time around. “We are pulling from last year, purely out of positive thinking,” the Australian noted. “I’m trying to find the positives in both [Alexander] Zverev and [Carlos] Alcaraz, and last year is the only reflection I can have. But right now, it seems to be a slightly different dynamic.”

Recalling their dramatic turnaround in 2025, Rafter reflected on how Team Europe’s overconfidence backfired. “It’s slightly different too. Last year, we put our team forward on Saturday, and they matched up,” he said. “They matched up pretty arrogantly. Alcaraz – ‘I’ll take down [Taylor] Fritz’. Zverev – ‘I’ve got [Alex] De Minaur, no worries’. They get tanked 4-0, and we steamroll them on Saturday.”

This time around, Rafter is wary of Europe’s hunger to reclaim the trophy and questions whether his own camp might fall into the same trap. “A little bit different this time; they’ve put their team forward, and are we showing arrogance by saying, ‘No worries, we’ve got this?’ It becomes a bit of a mind game,” Rafter added. “I just feel like they’re going to be fired up this year. I’ll try not to swear, but I will; they’re p—- off, and they want it back, and we’re trying to stop them from getting it.”

Laver Cup match results and day 2 schedule

Saturday’s day 2 lineup features 4 crucial encounters as Team World look to replicate their past heroics: Flavio Cobolli faces Learner Tien, Zverev plays Alex de Minaur, Alcaraz takes on Fritz, and Ruud and Zverev meet Bublik and Nakashima in doubles.