Team Europe leads Team World 3–1 after Friday’s opening day of the Laver Cup at The O2 in London (Laver Cup). Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik beat Alexander Bublik and Taylor Fritz 6–4, 6–4 in the closing doubles, after 20-year-old Rafael Jódar beat Bublik 6–2, 6–3 on his Laver Cup debut (Laver Cup; ATP Tour). Casper Ruud opened the day for Europe by beating Francisco Cerúndolo 6–7(4), 6–4, 10–8; Brandon Nakashima earned Team World’s point by beating Mensik 6–1, 3–6, 10–7 (ATP Tour; Reuters / Field Level Media).

Jódar, making his first appearance in Team Europe blue, converted four of nine break points and won 81 percent of his first-serve points (21 of 26) in 1 hour 24 minutes (Laver Cup). “I knew it was going to be a very tough match. Always playing your first matches at events is difficult, but I think I handled the important and difficult situations very well,” he said (Laver Cup). The Spaniard, coached by his father, broke for 4–2 in the first set and 2–0 in the second; he has risen from No. 306 to No. 14 in the ATP rankings in a single calendar year after winning the 2024 US Open boys’ title and his first tour-level title in Marrakech earlier this year (Laver Cup).

Bublik, the first Kazakhstani player in Laver Cup history, then pulled a double shift, returning for doubles with Fritz against Alcaraz and Mensik (Laver Cup). Europe’s pair closed it in 1 hour 27 minutes, saving three break points in a tricky Alcaraz service game in the first set (Tennis Majors; Laver Cup). “With Carlos, it’s always about good energy. We complete each other pretty well on the court,” Mensik said. “I feel the same way,” Alcaraz added. “We’re just 100 percent efficient when we team up” (Laver Cup).

Europe captain Yannick Noah refused to treat the 3–1 lead as settled. Team Europe also led 3–1 after the first day in San Francisco in 2025 before Team World won the Cup 15–9 on Day 3 (Laver Cup). “It was a very interesting first day, a lot of emotions,” Noah said. “But the spirit in the team is very good. But I know that last year we were up 3–1 the first day, so now it’s time to go rest and get ready for a good, interesting weekend” (Laver Cup). Saturday’s matches are worth two points each; Sunday’s are worth three (Reuters / Field Level Media; Laver Cup format). Saturday’s Day 2 slate had not started at press time — no Saturday scores are printed here.

On the WTA Tour in Singapore, No. 6 seed Leylah Fernandez beat top seed Mirra Andreeva 6–2, 7–5 on Friday to reach her first semifinal of 2026 (WTA). Fernandez saved two break points early, took the first set 6–2, led 5–2 in the second, absorbed Andreeva’s break back to 5–5, and broke again in the 12th game to finish in 1 hour 32 minutes (WTA). Andreeva finished with 41 unforced errors to Fernandez’s 30 (WTA). “It’s such a great win,” Fernandez said. “The way that I played, the way that I fought in the second set” (WTA). She plays No. 5 seed Maja Chwalińska in Saturday’s semifinals; no result was available at press time (WTA).

Australia’s Talia Gibson reached her first tour-level final by walkover after Tatiana Prozorova withdrew from their semifinal under the WTA concussion protocol (ABC News; Tennis Australia via wire reports). Gibson had upset No. 7 seed Maria Sakkari 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 in the quarterfinals earlier Friday (WTA). Prozorova had reached her first WTA Tour-level semifinal by beating Xinyu Wang 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 before the withdrawal (WTA).

Floor: Laver Cup Day 1 Europe 3–1 World at The O2 — Ruud d. Cerúndolo 6–7(4), 6–4, 10–8; Nakashima d. Mensik 6–1, 3–6, 10–7; Jódar d. Bublik 6–2, 6–3 (debut); Alcaraz/Mensik d. Fritz/Bublik 6–4, 6–4; Noah notes 2025 reverse (15–9); Sat matches 2 pts, not started. WTA Singapore: Fernandez d. Andreeva 6–2, 7–5; Gibson to final by Prozorova concussion-protocol walkover (Laver Cup; ATP Tour; WTA).