A look back at the major moments from the 2025 tennis season that set the stage for Laver Cup London 2026.
The 2025 tennis season was one of the most compelling in memory — a year when the old guard kept fighting, new champions emerged, and the Laver Cup went to the wire in San Francisco. Here is how it unfolded.
Carlos Alcaraz had already established himself as a multiple Grand Slam champion. In 2025, he went further. His Australian Open victory in January — defeating Djokovic in the final — set the tone for a year in which he was consistently the most dangerous player in the draw. He added further titles to cement his status as the clear world No. 1 going into 2026.
Jannik Sinner had won the Australian Open in 2024 and the US Open in 2024. But Wimbledon had eluded him. In 2025, he put that right — becoming the first Italian man to win at the All England Club. The victory was commanding, his serve-and-groundstroke combination working brilliantly on grass. It gave him four Grand Slams in total, and confirmation that he can win on any surface.
Aryna Sabalenka won her fourth Grand Slam at the 2025 Australian Open, defending her title from 2024 and extending her record as the dominant force in women's tennis. Her power game and improved consistency under pressure have made her a formidable champion across multiple surfaces.
Team World won the 2025 Laver Cup at Chase Center in San Francisco, 15–9 — their most convincing victory since the 13–2 result in Vancouver 2023. Fritz and de Minaur were outstanding, and Shelton's serve proved unbreakable on the Day 3 crucial rubbers. The result gave World back-to-back wins and momentum heading into London 2026.
Elena Rybakina won her second Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open — defeating Sabalenka 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 in a match of the highest quality. Her serve and flat groundstrokes proved difficult for even Sabalenka to handle in the third set. The victory pushed her to a career-high world No. 3.
The 2026 season began with the Australian Open already rewriting several storylines. Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in the men's final; Rybakina beat Sabalenka in the women's. Indian Wells and Miami follow before the clay season begins — and then, after the French Open, the Laver Cup rosters will be confirmed for London.
The next Laver Cup-relevant landmark: French Open qualifying draws close in early June, at which point the three ranking-based spots per team will be locked in.