The day began with Kasper Ruud defeating Francisco Cherundolo 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-8 in a Laver Breaker, the first of two tiebreakers in the opening two matches. Brandon Nakashima then leveled the team World tie by defeating Jakub Mensik 6-1, 3-6, 10-7 to claim their only point of the weekend.
Afternoon in Europe turned into a debutante. Rafael Jodar, making his first Laver Cup match at the end of his first year on tour, defeated Alexander Bublik 6-2, 6-3, converting four of his nine break points and winning 81% of his first-serve points. The 20-year-old Spaniard had to get used to this new sensation before getting it under control.
“I knew it was going to be a very tough match. “It’s always difficult to play the first matches in events, but I think I handled it very well,” Jodar said. “The first four and five games really helped me get used to the court. I have practiced on these courts for a few days now, but the practice sets and matches are completely different. And then in the second set I played with very, very strong and clear ideas.”
The day closed with a couple already with history. Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik, who played together in San Francisco last year, defeated Bublik and Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 27 minutes, saving three break points in the first set against Alcaraz’s difficult service game.
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“It’s always good energy with Carlos. He’s a guy that’s really easy to follow, not only on the court, but off the court as well,” Mensik said. “In San Francisco, when we played, we complemented each other pretty well on the court. I’m just happy that we showed that again this year.” “We have great chemistry and we showed that in San Francisco and again this year. We are 100% efficient when we put together a team.”
Noah, in his second year as a captain, spent much of his press conference describing the job he defines as reading players rather than instructing them. “Last year I had no idea what to say because I didn’t know what emotions they were feeling. “Sometimes there’s a player who likes to get fired up, and another player, at the same time, same score, wants to relax,” he said. “It’s not so much what I’m saying. It is very important what they feel if I can be helpful. I try to go with their energy. Everyone has a different energy.”
The caution was his behind the leader. “I know last year we were up 3-1 on the first day,” he said. “So now it’s time to go relax and get ready for a good, exciting weekend.”
Saturday’s matches are worth 2 points each, Sunday’s are worth three, and 13 points wins the cup.
LAVER CUP 2026, Day 1 results
- Casper Ruud (EUR) bt Francisco Cerundolo (WLD) 6-7 (4), 6-4, 10-8
- BRANDON NAKASHIMA (WLD) bt Jakub Mensik (EURO) 6-1, 3-6, 10-7
- Rafael Jodar (EURO) bt Alexander BUBLIK (WLD) 6-2, 6-3
- Carlos Alcaraz / Jakub Mensik (EURO) Alexander BUBLIK / Taylor FRITZ (WLD) 6-4, 6-4
LAVER CUP 2026, Day 2 game order
- Flavio COBOLLI (EUR) vs Learner TIEN (WLD) – 13:00
- Alexander ZVEREV (EURO) vs Alex DE MINAUR (WLD)
- Carlos Alcaraz (EURO) vs Taylor Fritz (WLD)
- Casper Rude / Alexander Zverev (EURO) vs Alexander Bublik / Brandon Nakashima (WLD)