The Laver Cup, often described as Tennis’s equivalent to Golf’s Ryder Cup, pits six of the top European players against six from the rest of the world. Named after Australian Tennis legend and Wimbledon champion Rod Laver, this annual event is a fan favourite, thanks to its unique format, start-studded roster, and friendly atmosphere. Unlike typical Tennis tournaments, the Laver Cup does not contribute to ATP ranking points, positioning it as a prestigious exhibition focused purely on presenting the premier Tennis stars of the year in a friendly yet competitive setting.
Understanding The Laver Cup Format
The Laver Cup pits two teams (Team Europe and Team World) against each other in a series of matches that span three days, typically held after the US Open. The competition involves both Singles and Doubles matches in a unique format designed to exhibit the best of Tennis. Each match is played as the best of three sets, with the third set being a 10-point tiebreaker if the first two sets are split.
The point system of the Laver Cup escalates with each day of the tournament:
- Day 1: Each match win earns one point.
- Day 2: Wins are valued at two points each.
- Day 3: Each win is worth three points.
If the total score is tied at 12-12 after all scheduled matches, a final Doubles match known as “The Decider” is played to determine the winner of the Laver Cup. This match is played as a regular set with ad scoring and a tiebreak, adding a dramatic climax to the tournament.
Laver Cup 2024
The 2024 edition of the Laver Cup is set to take place at the Uber Arena in Berlin from September 20-22. This year’s event is especially noteworthy as it marks the final year with Tennis icons Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe as captains for Team Europe and Team World, respectively. In 2025, Yannick Noah will take over for Team Europe and Andre Agassi for Team World. The total prize pool for the 2024 event stands at $2,250,000 (around £1.7m), with each member of the winning team receiving $250,000 (£190,000), and each member of the losing team earning $125,000 (£95,000).
Berlin Uber Arena
Each team consists of six players, with three selected based on their ATP singles rankings as of a specified cut-off date post-Roland Garros, and three chosen by the team captain as “captain’s picks”. Team Europe boasts a strong lineup with Carlos Alcaraz, who is making his debut after winning the French Open and Wimbledon in 2024 , alongside seasoned players like Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rafael Nadal was initially slated to participate but has been replaced by Grigor Dimitrov due to injury. Team World counters with a mix of returning players and new faces. US Open finalist Taylor Fritz makes an appearance alongside, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, and Frances Tiafoe bring experience and past successes to the team, while newcomers like Alejandro Tabilo aim to make a significant impact.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon
The Laver Cup will be broadcast live across various platforms, with coverage available on the Tennis Channel in the USA, Eurosport in Europe and the UK, and TSN and TVA Sports in Canada. Alternatively, and better yet, you could see the event in-person through a trusted ticket vendor such as Aceify, who promise the best service and amazing prices.