Team Europe holds a 7-5 lead over Team Europe heading into the final day of Laver Cup competition. Alexander Zverev could be in line to clinch for the home side against Learner Tien, with Carlos Alcaraz waiting in the wings if necessary.
Alexander Zverev (EUR) vs. Learner Tien (WOR)
Zverev and Tien will be facing each other for the fourth time in their careers when they collide inside London’s O2 Arena on Day 3 of the Laver Cup. The German leads their head-to-head series 2-1 and has won two in a row since Tien won their first encounter 6-3, 6-4 at the 2025 Acapulco tournament. Zverev cruised in straight sets at the 2025 French Open and prevailed 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(3) in the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals.
Both players have put points on the board for their teams already this week. Zverev lost to Alex de Minaur on Saturday afternoon but bounced back to win the doubles nightcap with Casper Ruud over Alexander Bublik and Brandon Nakashima. Tien opened Saturday’s order of play with a 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 victory over Flavio Cobolli. The American left-hander is always a tough opponent, but Zverev has a much easier time hitting through very slow conditions compared to Tien.
Pick: Zverev in 3
Carlos Alcaraz (EUR) vs. Alex de Minaur (WOR)
If Team Europe sweeps the first two matches on Sunday, it will lift the trophy and this match won’t be necessary. If it does have to be played, Alcaraz and De Minaur will be squaring off for the seventh time. All six of their previous encounters have gone Alcaraz’s way, and he is 15-2 in total sets against the Australian — including 13-1 in their last 14 sets. They have met once this season, when the Spaniard rolled 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in the Aussie Open quarters.
De Minaur picked up some much-needed confidence by beating Zverev 2-6, 7-6(5), 11-9 on Saturday. Alcaraz is 2-0 so far at this Laver Cup after winning a doubles match with Jakub Mensik (6-4, 6-4 over Bublik and Taylor Fritz) and then surviving a 6-3, 4-6, 13-11 thriller against Fritz on Saturday night. This probably won’t be a complete beatdown given that Alcaraz’s motivation and focus may not be where they are at — for example — during a Grand Slam, but the world No. 3 should be too good for De Minaur if things get tight at the business end of sets.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
WWW?
Looking bad for Team World. I reckon Team Europe basically has this in the bag.
I agree with the predicted winners here. If there’s going to be an upset it will be Tien. If de Minaur gets to play and gets inspired he might take a set off Alcaraz but I can’t see him beating Alcaraz tomorrow.
…I actually thought Fritz and de Minaur might win the doubles but nope.