2025 Laver Cup preview: Players, format, schedule, and how to watch the action live from San Francisco

Twelve of the world's best men's tennis players face off this weekend (19-21 September) as the 2025 Laver Cup kicks off in San Francisco, California.

Envisioned by Roger Federer and named after tennis great Rod Laver, the Laver Cup pits the best European players against the rest of the world’s top stars.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his win at the US Open, headlines Team Europe, while Team World is led by Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Taylor Fritz.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 Laver Cup.

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2025 Laver Cup – format and scoring

Over three days, 12 matches are played — nine singles and three doubles.

Matches use the best-of-three sets format, with a 10-point tiebreak if a third set is needed. The scoring escalates as the weekend progresses: matches on Day 1 are worth one point each, matches on Day 2 are worth two points each, and matches on Day 3 are worth three points each. The first team to reach 13 points takes the trophy.

Every player must appear in at least one singles match across the first two days, though no one can play more than two singles overall. In doubles, at least four players per team must take the court at some point, which adds a layer of strategy for the captains.

Schedule

All times are local (Pacific Time).

Friday, 19 September

Day Session (1 p.m. PT): Match 1 (Singles), followed by Match 2 (Singles)

Night Session (7 p.m. PT): Match 3 (Singles), followed by Match 4 (Doubles)

Saturday, 20 September

Day Session (1 p.m. PT): Match 5 (Singles), followed by Match 6 (Singles)

Night Session (7 p.m. PT): Match 7 (Singles), followed by Match 8 (Doubles)

Sunday, 21 September

Day Session (12 p.m. PT): Match 9 (Doubles), followed by Matches 10–12 (Singles, if required)

Who is playing at the 2025 Laver Cup?

Team Europe

Team Europe claimed their fifth tournament championship last year with a 13-11 triumph in Berlin.

They're favourites again as the Cup swings back to the USA for the 2025 edition, thanks to a powerhouse roster led by world No.1 and six-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz. Joining him is world No.3 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev, world No.11 Holger Rune, world No.13 Casper Ruud, and debutants Jakub Mensik and Flavio Cobolli, giving the European squad an enviable blend of elite champions and rising talent.

The team is captained by Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Yannick Noah, with Tim Henman serving as vice-captain.

Team World

Team World won back-to-back Laver Cups in 2022 and 2023, and looked on course for a third successive crown in 2024 after leading 11-7 going into the penultimate match of the tournament. But wins for Alexander Zverev and Alcaraz saw Europe secure a final-day comeback in Berlin.

The 2025 team will be led for the first time by Andre Agassi with Pat Rafter as his deputy. Taylor Fritz, currently world No. 5, carries the mantle as their top player, joined by Alex de Minaur, Francisco Cerundolo, Alex Michelsen, Joao Fonseca, and Reilly Opelka.

With Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton sidelined, the squad has a slightly new look, but also, fresh energy.

The marquee matchup will doubtless be Alcaraz vs. Fritz — a rematch of last year’s decisive singles clash, which Alcaraz won.

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