Andre Agassi heads into the 2026 Laver Cup with a title to defend and a clear approach to leadership: help his players trust their own tennis. In comments published by the organisers on Wednesday, September 23, the Team World captain emphasised togetherness and respect for each player's individual preparation.
The contest against Team Europe takes place at The O2 in London from September 25–27. Before the matches begin, both teams will take part in an open practice session at the venue on Thursday, September 24.
Lessons from San Francisco
Agassi returns alongside vice-captain Patrick Rafter. In their first year in charge, in 2025, Team World won 15–9 in San Francisco to claim its third title in four editions.
The swings of that weekend illustrate the challenge. After trailing 3–1 on Friday, the team won all four Saturday matches to move 9–3 ahead. Taylor Fritz secured the trophy on Sunday by beating Alexander Zverev 6–3, 7–6(4).
Agassi now faces Yannick Noah's Europe again. Selecting the line-ups is part of the job: every team member must play singles at least once over the first two days, while at least four players from each team must take part in doubles.
Why Sunday can change everything
A victory earns one point on Friday, two on Saturday and three on Sunday. The first team to reach 13 points wins the title. A 12–12 tie triggers a deciding doubles set.
With the value of each win increasing, deciding when to use each player becomes an important part of the contest. Building an early lead helps, but Sunday's matches can still transform the outcome.
The featured official video introduces the 2026 format, with explanations from the players. It is a guide to following the competition, which has yet to begin.