World number one Carlos Alcaraz teamed up with Czech rising star Jakub Mensik to defeat Team World’s Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen 7-6(9), 6-4 in the final match of Day 1 at the Laver Cup in San Francisco. The victory extended Team Europe’s lead to 3–1 at the Chase Center, capping off a strong opening day.
Mensik shines in singles and doubles
Earlier in the day, Mensik overcame Michelsen in a tense singles battle, winning 6-1, 6-7(3), 10-8. After dominating the first set, he was broken while serving for the match in the second, but recovered in the match tiebreaker to secure the point.
“It’s always tough for your nerves but I’m happy that I stay focused to the end,” said Mensik, 20.
Ruud opens with revenge win
Norway’s Casper Ruud earned the first point for Team Europe, defeating Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-6(4). The win marked a personal redemption for Ruud, who had lost the opening match in last year’s edition.
“I was in the same position last year and lost the opening match so it’s good to get some revenge and begin strong for Europe,” Ruud said.
Fonseca delivers for Team World
Team World’s only point came from Joao Fonseca, who beat Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 6-3. Backed by a vocal Brazilian crowd, the teenager showed composure and energy throughout the match.
“I tried to stay positive during the match. I was a little bit more nervous than usual, which is normal,” said Fonseca, who won his first ATP title earlier this year in Buenos Aires.
New captains, same intensity
This year’s Laver Cup features new leadership, with Yannick Noah replacing Bjorn Borg for Team Europe and Andre Agassi stepping in for John McEnroe on Team World’s bench. The event continues to evolve, but the competitive spirit remains high.
Europe has won five of the first seven editions, though Team World triumphed in Vancouver in 2023. The scoring format awards one point per match on Friday, two on Saturday, and three on Sunday. The first team to reach 13 points wins the trophy.
Team Europe heads into Saturday with momentum and a 3–1 lead, as the point values double and the pressure intensifies.
| Match | Player(s) Europe | Player(s) World | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Casper Ruud | Reilly Opelka | 6-4, 7-6(4) | Europe |
| 2 | Jakub Mensik | Alex Michelsen | 6-1, 6-7(3), 10-8 | Europe |
| 3 | Flavio Cobolli | Joao Fonseca | 4-6, 3-6 | World |
| 4 | Carlos Alcaraz / Jakub Mensik | Taylor Fritz / Alex Michelsen | 7-6(9), 6-4 | Europe |
Carlos Alcaraz in 2025
LWWWWLWWWW Ranked world no.1, the Spaniard played his last match on the 7th of September when he beat world no.2 Jannik Sinner 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 in the final of the U.S. Open to win his 24th career title.
During this season the Spaniard has managed to achieve an overall 61-6 match record. Alcaraz clinched 7 titles in 2025 in Rotterdam, Monte-Carlo, Rome, French Open, London, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. The Spaniard reached the final in Barcelona and Wimbledon.
He is also scheduled to play in Tokyo (Japan Open Tennis Championships) on the 24th of September and Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 1st of October.
