Laver Cup: Format, Teams, and Rivalry

tennis team competition with a storied history, the Laver Cup is a feisty battleground pitting Team Europe against Team World. Named after the legendary Rod Laver, the Laver Cup sees six of Europe’s top players face off against six of their counterparts.

Charles Perrin
Charles Perrin

Last updated: 2025-07-16

Chad Nagel

6 minutes read

Staged annually, this compelling tournament features a combination of singles and doubles rubbers, instilling an incredible competitive spirit. Essentially, the Laver Cup is the tennis equivalent of golf’s Ryder Cup, and we’re excited about the next edition.

To whet your appetite, SportsBoom has unpacked everything you should know ahead of the event, including venue details, expected teams, and the scoring system.

Laver Cup 2025: Date, Venue, and Overview

The Laver Cup will take place between September 19 and 21 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of NBA franchise the Golden State Warriors. However, the arena will be transformed with a distinctive black hard court installed.

Each player involved receives an appearance fee, and members of the winning team will be awarded $250,000 in prize money.

The eighth edition of the Laver Cup switches hosts between Europe and other corners of the world.

Laver Cup 2025 Teams and Captains

The three highest ATP-ranked players receive an automatic invitation, while the remaining three places allocated are ‘Captain Picks’, and they can be announced at any time before the start of the US Open. We’ve listed the current squads, but more announcements are imminent.

Team Europe Squad

  • Yannick Noah (Captain)
  • Carlos Alcaraz
  • Alexander Zverev
  • Holger Rune

NB: Three more spots expected to be confirmed

Team World Squad

  • Andre Agassi (Captain)
  • Taylor Fritz
  • Ben Shelton
  • Tommy Paul
  • Joao Fonseca

NB: Two more spots expected to be confirmed

Team Europe Star Player – Carlos Alcaraz

Possessing a combination of exquisite touch and immense power, Carlos Alcaraz could be a thorn in the Team World side once again. The Spaniard, who currently holds four Grand Slam titles, made his Laver Cup debut last year, chalking up eight points from his four matches played. His never-say-die spirit means he forces opponents into playing an extra shot, and he will likely shake things up.

Team World Star Player – Ben Shelton

Returning for a third Laver Cup appearance, Ben Shelton is arguably the ace in the pack. Shelton relishes the spotlight, and the mercurial left-hander is a serving demon.

Coached by his father, Shelton has delivered 12 Laver Cup matches from eight played, losing just one of his five doubles rubbers, illustrating his importance to the cause.

Laver Cup Scoring System and Format

The Laver Cup is split into a day and night session for the first couple of days, but the final day consists of a single session.

Each day comprises four matches — three singles and a doubles tie — and all matches are best-of-three sets. If the match is level after two set, a super tiebreaker (first to 10 points instead of seven) will determine the outcome.

The points allocation carries different weighting. Matches won on Friday earn a team a solitary point with two points up for grabs on Saturday, and three points are assigned to teams for each rubber won on Sunday. A total of 24 points are available, and the first team to 13 points will be declared champions.

Past Laver Cup Results and Champions

YearLocationWinnerResult
2024Berlin, GermanyTeam Europe15-9
2023Vancouver, CanadaTeam World13-2
2022London, EnglandTeam World13-8
2021Boston, USATeam Europe14-1
2019Geneva, SwitzerlandTeam Europe13-11
2018Chicago, USATeam Europe13-8
2017Prague, CzechiaTeam Europe15-9

NB: The 2020 edition wasn’t held due to the COVID-19 pandemic

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Europe have traditionally dominated, with five victories to their name. More recently, Team World has tried to bridge the gap with back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023.

Below, we’ve highlighted a couple of standout performances at previous editions. 

Laver Cup 2024 – Ben Shelton’s stunning win over Daniil Medvedev

On a redemption mission after losing his singles match the previous day, Ben Shelton produced when it mattered for Team World, leaving Team Europe’s Daniil Medvedev reeling.

Medvedev took the first set on a tiebreak, but Shelton displayed his resilience, escaping from some tight spots, including being 0-40 down in the sixth game of the second set.

Shelton’s blistering serve came to his rescue, and his impressive clutch tiebreaker in the third set clinched a precious win for Team World.

Laver Cup 2019 – Roger Federer’s dramatic encounter with Nick Kyrgios

The 2017 Laver Cup decider between Roger Federer and Nick Kyrgios set the tone, but the 2019 meeting wasn’t far behind in terms of quality.

Up a set and 2-1 in the second, Kyrgios had things under control, but Federer came swinging, and he clambered over the line 6-7, 7-5, 10-7 in an electric meeting that enthralled the fans. Although Federer retired in 2022, having previously held the record for the most weeks spent as World No.1 (237), his Laver Cup clashes with Kyrgios live long in the memory.

Laver Cup Latest News and Updates

Among the key Laver Cup developments are the introduction of two new players. Holger Rune will make his debut for Team Europe, while Joao Fonseca will get his first taste of the Laver Cup for Team World.

On the staffing front, Tim Henman, who has predominantly worked as a pundit since hanging up his racquet, has been appointed Team Europe’s vice-captain, succeeding Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist.

Pat Rafter, a former US Open champion, has been selected by Andre Agassi as vice-captain for Team World.

Fans can get exclusive access to player announcements, ticket news, and other updates by signing up through the official site as a Laver Cup insider.

Laver Cup Venue Highlights and Fan Experience

The Chase Center will be plunged into the spotlight for the Laver Cup. Holding up to 19,500 spectators, Chase Center stages basketball games, concerts, and other high-profile sporting events.

Renowned for its advanced technology integration, fans attending Chase Center can expect an immersive experience with LED ribbon boards, and the sound system has been designed for optimal aesthetics. A super-fast WiFi network ensures fans can share experiences in real time, making it a premier venue.

Laver Cup Trivia and Iconic Moments

Key Facts/Trivia

  1. Roger Federer’s fingerprints can be found on the tournament, and he founded the Laver Cup along with his agent and business partner.

  2. Alexander Zverev is the most successful Laver Cup player, winning the title on five occasions with Team Europe.

  3. Alongside Frances Tiafoe, Zverev is the only player to have competed at five different tournaments.

  4. Zverev also holds the record for most total points amassed across different tournaments (21).

  5. Carlos Alcaraz has won the most at a single Laver Cup edition (eight in 2024).

Final Thoughts on the Laver Cup 2025

In summary, the Laver Cup provides a feast of tennis, and the team dynamic adds an element of intrigue to proceedings.

There is a level of drama rarely matched by regular run-of-the-mill ATP Tour events, and seeing the players animated courtside cheering on their colleagues makes it inherently fun.

2025 is likely to be no different. While Team Europe have been the dominant force, Team World has managed to claw things back a little over the past couple of years. New rivalries will be formed, new heroes will be established, and we can’t wait to see how the latest chapter unfolds.