Laver Cup Day One Round-Up | Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik put Europe ahead after opening day

Team Europe ended the opening day of the 2026 Laver Cup with a 3-1 lead over Team World after four contrasting matches produced plenty of drama. The day featured a deciding match tiebreak thriller, a comeback from a one-sided opening set, a dominant straight-sets victory and a doubles clash that gave Europe another crucial point.

Europe took the opening singles match before Team World responded to level the tie, only for Rafael Jodar to restore his team's advantage in the third singles match. Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik then teamed up in the doubles to extend Europe's lead and leave them in control heading into the second day.

Ruud and Cerundolo produced an extremely tight opening set, with neither player able to create a break point through the first 11 games. Both remained comfortable behind their serves, eventually sending the set into a tiebreak after 12 consecutive holds. Cerundolo handled the crucial moments better and took the opener to put Team World in front.

Ruud raised his level in the second set and finally found the breakthrough at 5-4. The Norwegian created three break-point opportunities and converted the third before serving out the set to force a deciding match tiebreak.

The decider was another tense affair, with neither player able to establish a decisive advantage. Ruud was eventually the first to create a match point, and a huge smash allowed him to seal the victory and give Team Europe the opening point of the Laver Cup.

Nakashima made an outstanding start on his Laver Cup debut, immediately putting Mensik under pressure and racing through the opening set 6-1. The American controlled the exchanges from the baseline and forced Mensik to search for solutions, closing out the set in just 25 minutes despite the Czech having an opportunity to get one of the breaks back.

Mensik responded emphatically in the second set. He broke early and quickly took control, winning 12 of the first 14 points to establish a 3-0 advantage. The Czech maintained his lead under pressure and eventually served out the set 6-3 to force a deciding match tiebreak.

Mensik claimed the first mini-break in the decider with a superb backhand winner down the line, but Nakashima immediately responded. The American then moved ahead at 7-6 before another Mensik backhand error gave him a crucial mini-break at 8-7. Nakashima held his nerve from there to complete the comeback and secure Team World's first point.

Jodar made the stronger start in the first meeting between the two players, although both had already faced pressure on serve during the opening games. The Spaniard eventually found the breakthrough at 3-2 with a stunning crosscourt forehand winner, giving him the first break of the match.

Jodar consolidated the advantage and continued to pressure Bublik's serve. He broke again to close out the opening set 6-2, recovering after slipping during one of the final rallies before Bublik sent a forehand wide to hand him the set.

The Spaniard carried that momentum into the second set, breaking immediately and backing it up with another hold to move 3-0 ahead. Bublik managed to pull one break back at 4-1, but Jodar remained firmly in control and broke again before moving within one game of victory.

Jodar eventually completed the 6-2, 6-3 win with another flawless service game, sealing the most dominant performance of the three singles matches. The victory restored Team Europe's lead and leaves the team 2-1 ahead heading into the doubles.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik secured another point for Team Europe with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz and Alexander Bublik. The European pair made a strong start to the doubles, with both players combining well and remaining composed when Team World began to put pressure on their serve.

The opening set stayed close before Alcaraz and Mensik found the decisive break midway through. They then held their nerve to take the set and carried that momentum into the second, where they continued to look the more comfortable partnership despite Fritz and Bublik staying competitive at the net.

Team World never allowed the match to run away from them, but Alcaraz and Mensik maintained control and moved within one game of victory. Bublik held to keep his team alive, but Mensik then served out the match without dropping his advantage. The 6-4, 6-4 win gave Team Europe another point and extended their lead to 3-1 after the opening day.