Alex de Minaur swings Laver Cup against Zverev
Alex de Minaur saved match point against Alexander Zverev to move Team World ahead at the Laver Cup.
De Minaur finds a way back
Alex de Minaur pulled Team World ahead with a comeback win over Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup. Zverev held a commanding 6-2, 5-3 position and served for the match, yet de Minaur kept extending rallies on a slow court. He would not yield. The Australian saved match point during Zverev's service game in the deciding tiebreak.
The finish came when Zverev's backhand clipped the outer edge of the sideline. That error completed a reversal after de Minaur had spent much of the contest absorbing pressure, including the opening set. He stayed aggressive late. De Minaur called the occasion “special” and said he had left everything on court for Team World.
A rare setback for Zverev
The loss stopped a nine-match winning run for Zverev, who had recently won the US Open and both of his Davis Cup group ties against Croatia. His Court Shark record over his last ten completed matches is 9-1. The defeat was abrupt. It also left his 2026 mark against top-ten opponents at 2-8.
Zverev entered the contest as world No. 2, and the position made his failure to close from that late advantage stand out further. De Minaur had endured his own problems against the leading group, with no top-ten win in 2025 before one such result this season. His earlier success came against Felix Auger-Aliassime in Rotterdam. This was his fourth victory over Zverev.
Tien starts Team World's response
Learner Tien had already brought Team World level by defeating Flavio Cobolli before de Minaur took the court. Team World began the second day behind 3-1 after the opening matches. Tien changed the mood. De Minaur then supplied the result that put his side in front.
Tien is ranked No. 15 and has gone 6-4 across his last ten completed matches. Cobolli, ranked No. 6, carries the same recent 6-4 record. Their match gave Team World a platform, but de Minaur's recovery supplied the bigger swing. It showed how quickly a team contest can turn when a player survives a closing game.
Team World takes a narrow lead
The two-point win gave Team World a 5-3 lead over Team Europe with matches still to be played on Saturday. De Minaur said the team had been in a similar position last year, when it went on to take the title. There is little separation now. The contest remains open going into the final day.
Each win on day three will be worth three points, increasing the pressure on every remaining match. Team World had started the day needing a response after the first session. It has one. De Minaur's ability to remain in the points when defeat appeared close has given his side a chance to carry momentum forward.
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