Getting off to a good start almost always seals the deal in Laver Cup history. The team winning the opening match has won six of the seven total Laver Cup titles.
Match 1: Casper Ruud vs. Reilly Opelka
Casper Ruud was a man on a mission trying to put Team Europe in a favorable position. Against Reilly Opelka, Ruud played an incredible level of tennis while using a new racquet for the first time in a competitive match.
Ruud won the match in straight sets though Opelka did force a second set tiebreaker.
Team Europe starting strong 💪@CasperRuud98 gets the victory over Opelka 6-4 7-6(4).@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/VilvOPc4Pq
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 19, 2025
After the match, Ruud downplayed the racquet change calling it “not a big change.” He is using the same frame, but “just a bit of a smaller head size.”
He also talked about playing golf with Roger Federer against Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. Ruud said that Federer sealed the deal as they won by a stroke.
Match 2: Jakub Mensik vs. Alex Michelsen
Alex Michelsen, the native Californian, had the crowd on his side as he dug himself out of a slow start and made it a competitive match midway through the second set. Michelsen raised his level and was making great gets at the net while protecting his serve.
Team Europe on 🔥@mensik_jakub_ edges past Michelsen 6-1 6-7(3) 10-8.@LaverCup | #LaverCup pic.twitter.com/ja4lFmXCMv
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 19, 2025
Michelsen forced a “Laver breaker”, a ten point match tiebreak. Mensik ultimately won the 19 minute tiebreak, but it was filled with great play by both players.
After the match, Mensik, 20, talked about how well he and Michelsen, 21, know each other’s games since they have been playing each other since juniors.
Mensik, Michelsen, and his Team World compatriot, Joao Fonseca, 19, the youngest players at the Laver Cup, are proof that tennis’s next generation has arrived on the scene.
Laver Cup Scoring
Each of Day 1’s matches are worth 1 point. Day 2’s matches are worth 2 points, and the Day 3 matches are worth 3 points. 12 total matches, with 4 played each day; three singles and one doubles match, can be played as scoring permits.
