Experts Predict: Who Will Win Laver Cup London 2026?

After the first four editions of the Laver Cup, many tennis fans wondered if Team World would ever win the competition. Now with Team Europe leading the all-time head-to-head 5-3, the momentum features a distinct streak of red, with Team World taking three of the past four editions. Laver Cup London 2026 presents a fresh slate with both veterans of the event and rookies appearing on both sides. So, who is looking like a winner in 2026?

LaverCup.com sought out predictions from an esteemed panel.

Who will win Laver Cup?

Todd Woodbridge [TV commentator]: I think Team Europe wins this year. They have a point to prove. I think what Sascha [Zverev] has achieved over the last six months just brings a different aura for him and to the team and then you have Carlos [Alcaraz] back who is just champing at the bit to get going. I think there is just a real energy amongst them, but you can never underestimate the [Andre] Agassi affect, and the underdog feel that Team World always has.

John McEnroe [Team World captain, 2017-2024]: You have to look at the matchups, that is part of the fun of it. There are a lot of young guys, which makes it unpredictable. I’d say obviously you have Zverev, who cost me Laver Cup matches in the past, also Carlos, so Team Europe has to go in as the bigger favorites. The way it’s set up makes it competitive almost no matter what. Weird things happen.

Mary Joe Fernandez [Former top player and TV commentator]: Team Europe. I think they want revenge, we are playing in Europe. Obviously Zverev is coming off a major win at the US Open, so he’s going to be confident. He didn’t win his match last year that was important, and I think this year he’s going to come through.

Gigi Salmon [TV commentator]: Team Europe will win with five returning players. They have worked together before and that will make a difference.

Sam Smith [TV commentator]: Team Europe will win because they’ve got very strong and in-form players.

Mark Petchey [TV commentator]: Team Europe. They have the strongest team.

Sam Querrey [TV commentator]: Team Europe is going to win Laver Cup this year. They want revenge after losing last year. I also think Alcaraz is going to be really fired up and have even more motivation to win since he’s missed so much tennis this year. I also have a little more confidence in the five-six players from Team Europe than I do from the five-six players from Team World. [Jakub] Mensik and [Rafael] Jodar are both so nasty!

Who will be the Laver Cup London 2026 MVP?

Woodbridge: I think Carlos, just the way he is. I think opening the doubles on Day 1, a lovely little way to get going, get a point there. I think he is the pivotal part.

McEnroe: Zverev has had this incredible turnaround winning two slams. Anything short of him winning both matches is a step down. If he plays like he has been playing, he will be tough to beat.

Fernandez: I think the MVP is going to be Zverev. I think he is going to be the one who wins all his matches.

Salmon: Carlos Alcaraz.

Smith: I believe Sascha Zverev will be the MVP because right now he has the best form of everybody in the world and he delivers at Laver Cup. We saw that in Geneva when it went down to a final match tiebreak in the decider and also in Berlin when he came back from a set and 4-2 against Frances Tiafoe to keep the tie alive and Team Europe eventually won.

Petchey: Zverev.

Querrey: MVP will be Alcaraz. I think he’s going to win every single match in singles and doubles.

Who will be Laver Cup London 2026’s Top Rookie?

Woodbridge: It goes between Learner Tien and Rafa Jodar. Given this surface, which is quite slow and low, I think I am going to go with Jodar just because of the size and what he’s brought in terms of wins in the last 12 months. There is going to be a point in maybe six months where he has to do it all again as everybody is working him out, but he’s still in that fairy light stage, so I think that still bodes well for him.

Fernandez: I think it could be Learner Tien for World. I think he might surprise people with how well he can compete. The format lends itself for someone who knows how to play those tiebreaks, and he’s so young, still coming off the juniors, and he has so many top 10 wins he won’t be intimated by it.

McEnroe: Jodar and Tien are the obvious two. In this format, the court has been slow in the past, it could favor one of those two.

Salmon: For tennis reasons, Learner Tien. For going rogue, Sascha Bublik.

Smith: Rafael Jodar. I believe Learner Tien will also be sensational, and Alexander Bublik will be entertaining.

Petchey: Tien.

Querrey: Jodar will make the biggest impact as a rookie. He’s consistent every week and nothing seems to bother him. I think he’ll rise to the occasion and, as of now, I would pick him to beat every player on Team World.

What’s each team’s X-factor?

Woodbridge: Flavio Cobolli, I just like his attitude, what he brings, the flare, the good lightness he brings to Team Europe. They can be a pretty straight bunch of guys. The guy who isn’t always talked about as an X-factor is Alex [de Minaur]. He brings a spirit in [Team World] and has never lost a singles match. I am going for him and keeping my Australian connection.

McEnroe: The X-factor is doubles. That’s what it was for me a lot. A couple times nine out of the 10 in the rankings would be Europeans, but we’d be in it because of the doubles. To me, that is always the X-factor.

Fernandez: I think the X-factor could be the coaching. Last year was Agassi, the way he got [Taylor] Fritz through it against Alcaraz. It could come down to saying the right thing at the right time.

Salmon: The team captains. Polar opposites but each have that X-factor.

Smith: Team World’s Andre Agassi and the amazing energy he brings and tactical analysis on the side of the court. For Team Europe it will be Carlos Alcaraz and being back in tennis and livening up the whole place and really buying into what the Laver Cup is all about.

Petchey: Agassi for Team World and Alcaraz for Team Europe.

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