Three days, 12 players, nine singles, three doubles, and $1,500,000 prize money at stake—the 2025 Laver Cup promises to deliver unmatched tennis action. Set to take place in the United States for the third time at San Francisco, California’s Chase Center, after 2018 (Chicago) and 2021 (Boston), from September 19 to September 21, Team Europe will be taking on Team World to compete for the eighth edition of the annually held tournament, first launched by Rodger Federer’s TEAM8 in 2017.

Just like every year, this edition also features remarkable faces that will be gracing the international indoor hard court men’s team competition to vie for the prize. This only makes one wonder how exactly the players are chosen. So without wasting any time, let’s get to the selection process involved in the Laver Cup.

How are players selected in Roger Federer’s Team 8-hosted tennis tournament?

Unlike traditional tennis tournaments, the Laver Cup has a unique way of determining which players can participate. As mentioned, there are a total of 12 players, who are divided into equal teams of two. Firstly, six spots are given to the top three-ranked players as of the day after the Roland-Garros men’s final. The other six places are chosen by the captains ahead of the US Open.

The captains are central to guiding their teams. Their typical job description includes choosing players and setting the daily lineup, as well as providing leadership on and off the court. They also oversee match preparation and give on-court coaching during play. Their strategy is vital in helping the team reach the 13 points required to win the Laver Cup ahead of their rivals.

This year, former French player Yannick Noah will be leading Team Europe as their captain. Alongside the 65-year-old icon is former British tennis star Tim Henman as vice captain, and both have chosen quite a star-studded squad, which includes Carlos Alcaraz (1), Alexander Zverev (3), Holger Rune (11), Casper Ruud (12), Jakub Mensik (17), and Flavio Cobolli (25).

Meanwhile, the Team World is led by captain ex-American star Andre Agassi and ex-Australian star Patrick Rafter, taking the vice captain role. Their team of six features Taylor Fritz (5), Alex de Minaur (8), Francisco Cerundolo (21), Alex Michelsen (32), Joao Fonseca (42), and Reilly Opelka (62).

Notably, Agassi had chosen Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul for his Team World squad. However, due to their injuries sustained during the US Open, their captain was compelled to change the line. Even Frances Tiafoe was brought into the team before eventually calling his decision to withdraw. Remarkably, with this year’s captain selections, several fresh faces will be making their Laver Cup debuts.

Team World welcomes Alex Michelsen, Joao Fonseca, and Francisco Cerundolo, while Team Europe introduces Holger Rune, Jakub Mensik, and Flavio Cobolli to the stage. On the other hand, a few names are no strangers to the competition—Alexander Zverev leads the pack with his sixth appearance, followed by Casper Ruud and Taylor Fritz with five. Reilly Opelka and Alex de Minaur return for their second outings, and Carlos Alcaraz joins for the second time too, bringing both seasoned campaigners and exciting newcomers into this year’s mix.

When and how to watch the Laver Cup?

The 2025 Laver Cup will run with day and night sessions throughout the weekend. On Friday and Saturday, matches kick off at 1:00 pm local time for the daytime slate, followed by evening play beginning at 7:00 pm. Sunday’s action starts earlier, at 12:00 pm, with the schedule adapting to the overall team score.

Schedule:

Friday, 19 September

Day Session (1 p.m. PT): Match 1 (Singles), followed by Match 2 (Singles)

Night Session (7 p.m. PT): Match 3 (Singles), followed by Match 4 (Doubles)

Saturday, 20 September

Day Session (1 p.m. PT): Match 5 (Singles), followed by Match 6 (Singles)

Night Session (7 p.m. PT): Match 7 (Singles), followed by Match 8 (Doubles)

Sunday, 21 September

Day Session (12 p.m. PT): Match 9 (Doubles), followed by Matches 10–12 (Singles, if required)

*All times are local (Pacific Time).

Here’s where you can tune in to watch the event live: