Team Europe owns a 3-1 lead heading into Day 2 of Laver Cup competition and now turns to Carlos Alcaraz as the anchor of its singles lineup. Alcaraz is facing Taylor Fritz, while Saturday’s schedule begins with Flavio Cobolli vs. Learner Tien.
Carlos Alcaraz (EUR) vs. Taylor Fritz (WOR)
Alcaraz and Fritz will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers and for the third time at the Laver Cup when they clash inside London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night. Fritz’s lone victory in this matchup came via a 6-3, 6-2 decision at this same competition 12 months ago, but he trails the head-to-head series 5-1. Alcaraz previously defeated Fritz at the Laver Cup 6-2, 7-5 in 2024. They most recently faced each other twice last fall, when the seven-time Grand Slam champion triumphed 6-4, 6-4 in the Tokyo title match and 6-7(2), 7-5, 6-2 at the Nitto ATP Finals.
When Alcaraz lost to Fritz last year in San Francisco, the Spaniard was coming off a U.S. Open title in addition to having lifted the trophy in Cincinnati. Needless to say, Alcaraz was not in the right physical or mental state to put forth a big effort at the Laver Cup. This time around, he has played only five singles matches since April. Alcaraz is well rested and looked good in a doubles victory with Jakub Mensik of Friday night, taking down Fritz and Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-4. A similar result in singles should be in the cards.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
Flavio Cobolli (EUR) vs. Learner Tien (WOR)
At No. 5 in the race to Turin, Cobolli is likely to make his Nitto ATP Finals debut in 2026. The Italian’s year is highlighted by a runner-up performance at the French Open and a quarterfinal run at Wimbledon, but he is just 6-5 in his last 11 matches. Cobolli seemed to lose steam in New York, where he needed five sets to defeat Francisco Comesana and eventually lost to Alexander Blockx in round three.
Saturday marks the third meeting between Cobolli and Tien. After Tien prevailed 6-3, 6-2 at the 2025 Beijing tournament, Cobolli cruised 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 a few months ago at Roland Garros. However, the latter result can be thrown out the window. Tien was running on fumes at that point, having won the Geneva title right before arriving in Paris and then battling through a five-setter against Facundo Diaz Acosta one round before running into Cobolli. The story should be much different in London, as Tien is the better player right now and would rather face the world No. 7 on an indoor hard court as opposed to clay.
Pick: Tien in 2