Alexander Zverev capped a remarkable 2026 season by delivering the decisive win as Team Europe reclaimed the Laver Cup with a 13-5 victory over Team World at London’s O2 Arena.
The newly crowned US Open champion defeated Learner Tien 7-6(3), 6-3 in Sunday’s second match to put Team Europe beyond reach and secure the trophy with two matches still remaining.
Zverev had to work for the opening set, with neither player able to create a decisive advantage. The German eventually took control of the tie-break and carried that momentum into the second set, breaking Tien before closing out the victory in straight sets.
The result added another highlight to a standout season for Zverev, who has now won both the French Open and US Open in 2026. He also played an important role in Europe’s Laver Cup campaign after previously losing to Alex de Minaur in Saturday’s singles before partnering Casper Ruud to a doubles victory later that day.
Team Europe entered the final day holding a 7-5 lead, with Sunday victories worth three points each. Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik extended that advantage by beating de Minaur and Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-3 in the opening doubles match.
That left Zverev with the opportunity to finish the contest, and he took it against Tien.
For Team Europe, the victory marked a return to the top after Team World won the previous edition 15-9 in San Francisco in 2025. It also ended Team World's recent run of success in the event.
Zverev's victory meant the remaining scheduled singles matches involving Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Jodar were not required, with Europe already having reached the 13-point target.
Alcaraz had played an important part in Europe's campaign, beating Taylor Fritz in a dramatic deciding-set tie-break on Saturday to help his team take a narrow lead into the final day. The Spaniard had also partnered Jakub Mensik to a doubles win on Friday.
For Zverev, however, the final word belonged to him. Fresh from claiming his second Grand Slam title of the season in New York, he produced the victory that returned the Laver Cup to Team Europe on home soil.
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