Laver Cup Day 1: Alcaraz and Jodar Help Team Europe to 3-1 Lead Over Team World in London

Team Europe made a strong start at the 2026 Laver Cup, taking a 3-1 lead over Team World after the opening day at The O2 Arena in London on Friday, 25 September. Casper Ruud, debutant Rafael Jodar and the doubles pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik all won, while Brandon Nakashima picked up Team World's only point.

Day 1 results

• Casper Ruud (EUR) def. Francisco Cerundolo (WLD) 6-7(4), 6-4, 10-8
• Brandon Nakashima (WLD) def. Jakub Mensik (EUR) 6-1, 3-6, 10-7
• Rafael Jodar (EUR) def. Alexander Bublik (WLD) 6-2, 6-3
• Carlos Alcaraz/Jakub Mensik (EUR) def. Alexander Bublik/Taylor Fritz (WLD) 6-4, 6-4

Ruud edges the opener

Ruud got Europe off the mark in a tight contest with Cerundolo. After losing the first set on a tiebreak, the Norwegian levelled and then won the deciding match tiebreak 10-8.

Team World hit back through Nakashima, who dominated the first set against Mensik 6-1. Mensik responded by taking the second, but the American held his nerve in the match tiebreak to win it 10-7.

Jodar's impressive debut

The standout performance came from 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar. On his Laver Cup debut, he needed just 84 minutes to beat Bublik 6-2, 6-3, converting four of his nine break points and winning 81 per cent of his first-serve points, according to the official Laver Cup website.

"I think the first four or five games really helped me to get used to the court," Jodar said.

Jodar's rise has been rapid. The Laver Cup site notes he is now ranked No. 14 in the ATP Rankings, having climbed from No. 306, and he won his first tour-level title in Marrakech earlier this year.

Alcaraz and Mensik close the day

In the final match of the night, Alcaraz teamed up with Mensik to beat Fritz and Bublik 6-4, 6-4 in doubles, giving Europe a two-point cushion.

"I'm just trying to have fun in every place that I go and on every court that I play on," Alcaraz said, as reported by Sky Sports.

Noah stays cautious

Team Europe captain Yannick Noah warned against getting carried away. Europe also led 3-1 after the first day last year in San Francisco, only to lose 15-9 to Andre Agassi's Team World.

How the scoring works

The Laver Cup scoring increases each day, which means the lead can change quickly:

• Friday: 1 point per match
• Saturday: 2 points per match
• Sunday: 3 points per match
• Winning target: first team to 13 points

With Saturday's matches worth double, Team World can still turn things around. Because of the time difference, Saturday's sessions will be played on Saturday evening and night in Malaysia.

Key takeaways

• Team Europe lead Team World 3-1 after Day 1 of the Laver Cup at The O2 in London.
• Rafael Jodar beat Alexander Bublik 6-2, 6-3 on his debut.
• Brandon Nakashima won Team World's only point, against Jakub Mensik.
• Carlos Alcaraz and Mensik won the doubles 6-4, 6-4.
• Saturday matches are worth two points each; the first team to 13 wins.

FAQ

What is the Laver Cup score after Day 1? Team Europe lead Team World 3-1.

Who are the Laver Cup 2026 captains? Yannick Noah captains Team Europe and Andre Agassi captains Team World.

How many points are needed to win the Laver Cup? The first team to reach 13 points wins the title.

Sources: Laver Cup official website, ATP Tour, Sky Sports, Yahoo Sports