Since its inception in 2017, Roger Federer’s Laver Cup has witnessed seven events. And in those events, more than 60% of the matches have entailed a tiebreaker. And that’s where the Laver Breaker was conceptualized as a solution to help the officials in a time crunch. But what exactly is a Laver Breaker? Is it just another name for a tennis tiebreaker? Let’s understand this concept as the Laver Cup keeps the San Francisco crowd intrigued. 

Understanding the concept of a “Laver Breaker”

The Laver Cup is unique not just because it pits Team Europe against Team World or the star-studded lineup playing alongside instead of just facing each other across the net, but also because of its innovative scoring format. And one of the signature elements of the Laver Cup is the Laver Breaker. It’s a decisive tiebreaker that can turn the entire momentum of a match in meagre minutes. 

The name of this tiebreaker is an honorable shout out to the one and only Rod ‘Rocket’ Laver. And in a rapid-fire interview during the Laver Cup, ‘Rocket’ himself revealed the secret to winning a tiebreaker. He said, “It helps having a big serve! It’s the same as winning a match – win the first point, and the next and the next. Don’t look back. If you do fall behind, put it behind you and focus on the next point. As I’ve said before, pressure is pressure. It comes with the territory. You’ve got to embrace it.”

So, how exactly does the Laver Breaker work? 

How does the Laver Cup’s tiebreaker work?

Let’s break it to you – it’s a 10-point match tiebreaker. That means the first player or team to reach 10 points wins. Also, there must be a two-point advantage for the players to claim the win. For example, the players must score 12-10 or 10-8 to win the Laver Breaker. This death-trap style finish creates high tension, leaving fans clinging to the edge of their seats in a nail-biting cliffhanger moment, though not as drawn out.

And if this Laver breaker has to enter another decider? For context, “If the points are tied at 12:12 at the end of all matches,” then another decider sequence comes into play in the form of, “a final overtime doubles match.” This is played as a regular set with ad scoring and a tiebreak as the decider. This brings us to the next question – How is the Laver Breaker different from the traditional tiebreakers we see at the majors and Grand Slams? 

Laver Breaker vs traditional tennis tiebreaker: key differences 

Generally, in the traditional games, when the match reaches 6-6 (40-40) in a set, or sometimes when the players reach a tie in the final set, they decide the outcome through a tiebreaker. However, in the Laver Cup, the Laver Breaker replaces the full third set when the match is tied all. And as detailed above, the first person to score 10 points claims the win. 

But that’s not the sole difference! Traditional tiebreaks can lead to long final sets. But Laver Breaker creates a defined maximum in decisiveness. Once you’re at one set all, it caps the final section to a 10-point decider. So, matches are more uniform in potential maximum duration. And with a compressed decisive period, every single point seems critical. 

When is the Breaker Used in the tournament?

The Laver Breaker is used whenever a match is split after two sets in both singles and doubles. That is, when each player/team has won one set. The rule stands tall regardless of the game being a singles or doubles match. 

Why did the Laver Cup introduce a unique tiebreaker format?

Just like any other tiebreaker, the Laver Breaker also enhances the excitement and drama in the matches. After all, it’s often the match-deciding tiebreakers that keep the fans glued to their seats despite their raised entropy. But the excitement for a Laver Breaker is also factored by its lower time, creating a more thrilling and fast-paced experience for the audience. 

On top of that, the shorter matches help with the scheduling of multiple matches across the Laver Cup sessions. This, in turn, prevents the overtly long matches that have usually delayed the program in traditional majors and Grand Slam events. After all, the Laver Cup matches are spread across three days. And the officials have to end it all within that time.  

But what do you think about the Laver Breaker and the tournament’s unique rules? Drop us a comment with your thoughts.