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Casper Ruud Named To Team Europe For 2025 Laver Cup

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Casper Ruud will return for his fifth straight Laver Cup appearance, joining Team Europe for this year’s event, taking place at Chase Center in San Francisco from September 19–21, 2025.


The Norwegian star, who captured the Madrid Open title earlier this season, will line up alongside World No.2 Carlos Alcaraz, World No.3 Alexander Zverev, and World No.9 Holger Rune under the leadership of newly appointed Team Europe captain, Yannick Noah. The final two European players will be announced in the coming weeks.


Three-time Grand Slam finalist Ruud made his Laver Cup debut in Boston (2021) and has been an integral part of the team ever since, competing in London (2022), Vancouver (2023), and Berlin (2024). He holds a 4-2 win-loss record in the competition.
 

“The Laver Cup is incredible, bringing together Europe, with its rich tennis history, to take on the rest of the world,” said Ruud. 

“I love representing Europe, and doing my best for the whole continent, not just my country. The team aspect is unique – getting to play alongside guys who are usually my rivals and to support each other is something we don’t experience often.”

“I’m also really looking forward to playing in front of Yannick Noah and Tim Henman for the first time – they are a dynamic duo and it’s going to be really cool. And, I’m excited to visit San Francisco for the first time. I’m a big Golden State Warriors fan, so playing in Chase Center will be something special.”

Noah welcomed Ruud’s return, praising the 26-year-old’s consistency and spirit.

“Casper is a great competitor who brings experience, passion and composure to the team environment,” said Noah. “He understands the spirit of the Laver Cup and is exactly the kind of player you want by your side. I’m delighted he’s back.”

Across the net, Team World, led for the first time this year by eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi, promises to provide fierce competition as they look to capture their third Laver Cup. Their lineup so far includes American trio – Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul – alongside rising Brazilian star João Fonseca, with two further players to be named ahead of the US Open.

Now in its eighth edition, the Laver Cup pits six of the best men’s tennis players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the World in a thrilling three-day competition.
 
Played on a dramatic black court, the competition rotates host cities between Europe and the World annually. Each team’s six players must all compete in one singles match during the first two days, and no more than two during the three-day competition. At least four of the six players must play doubles. Each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday, with the first team to reach 13 points winning the Laver Cup.
 
The 2025 edition of Laver Cup marks the event’s first appearance on the U.S. West Coast, with the state-of-the-art Chase Center, home of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries,set to host tennis for the first time.
A limited number of tickets for Friday and Sunday are still available via Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of Chase Center.

For further updates on player announcements, event information, special offers and more, fans are encouraged to register as a ‘Laver Cup Insider’ at lavercup.com.

BERLIN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 20: Casper Ruud of Team Europe acknowledges the crowd as Team Europe are introduced ahead of the evening session on day one of Laver Cup at Uber Arena on September 20, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images for Laver Cup)


Jannik Sinner Replaced By Casper Ruud in MGM Rewards Slam In Las Vegas March 1-2

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Jannik Sinner is out and Casper Ruud is in.

Due to his recent WADA drug suspension that will keep him off the competitive tennis courts until May, Sinner will not compete in the “The MGM Rewards Slam,” a star-studded weekend of tennis taking place Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Ruud, a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros, replaces Sinner at the exhibition event.

On Sunday, March 2, the 26-year-old Ruud of Oslo, Norway, currently No. 5 in the world rankings, joins world No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev and Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, ranked Nos. 4 and 9, respectively, in a four-player round-robin event using 10-point tiebreakers. The two players with the highest points will compete in a Championship Tiebreak for the men’s version of the Lion’s Cup.

Ruud, who has 12 ATP singles titles in his more than 10-year career, became the highest-ranked Norwegian in history when he vaulted to No. 2 in the world singles rankings in September 2022. After growing up idolizing Rafael Nadal and training at the all-time great’s academy, Ruud squared off against his hero and lost in the finals at the 2022 French Open. Ruud, who has earned more than $23 million in career prize money, was honored by his fellow players with the 2022 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.

In Saturday’s main event, women’s World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face off against former No. 1 Naomi Osaka for the coveted Lion’s Cup. Sabalenka, the recent Australian Open finalist from Belarus, is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion while Japan’s Osaka has earned four Grand Slam titles, including her first two back-to-back at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Australian Open.

Additionally on Sunday, American Reilly Opelka and Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will square off in “The Ace Challenge Presented by Michelob ULTRA” for the title of the game’s fastest serve. 

Tickets are on sale via axs.com. Single-day tickets start at $55 and two-day tickets at $127.50, not including applicable service charges or fees. Room and ticket packages also are available online at The MGM Rewards Slam Packages and include premium tickets to both matches, luxury accommodations, and more.

ABOUT MGM REWARDS

MGM Rewards is MGM Resorts International’s premier lifestyle loyalty program that allows members to earn benefits and rewards for virtually every dollar they spend throughout the company’s domestic destinations in Las Vegas, Detroit, Atlantic City, Mississippi, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio. MGM Rewards members have the benefit of earning MGM Rewards Points based on eligible non-gaming and gaming spend and redeemable for complimentary food and beverage, entertainment, hotel stays, and more. Additionally, seamless integration between MGM Rewards and BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, unlocks even more benefits, including the ability to earn rewards for online BetMGM play, Tier Credits toward MGM Rewards tier advancement and access to tailored offers and real-world experiences across MGM Resorts and BetMGM. For more information, visit mgmrewards.com.

ABOUT MICHELOB ULTRA ARENA

The Michelob ULTRA Arena is a multi-purpose arena home to World Championship Boxing, premier concerts and special events. With seating for as many as 12,000, the entertainment venue offers excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Home to the WNBA multiple-time-champion Las Vegas Aces, the venue also has hosted prominent concerts and events including Justin Timberlake, KISS, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, John Mayer, Metallica, Journey, Iron Maiden, Marc Anthony, New Kids on the Block and Alejandro Fernandez, among others. World championship boxing events have featured fighters including Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao. The Michelob ULTRA Arena also has been home to multiple Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, the annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction and the Latin Billboard Music Awards.

Casper Ruud (Norwegen) Hamburg, 26.07.2023, Tennis, Hamburg European Open 2023, Combined, Herren Einzel

There Was Pro Tennis Even On Christmas Day…In Macau, China!

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Pro tennis is a global sport that is played 365 days a year….even on Christmas Day.

And it was a day that highlighted the magic of Macau in China as a sporting destination, with the “2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters” concluding on a high note that left fans with memories to cherish long after the event.

Excitement was in the air early, as fans flocked to the Macao Forum hours before the matches began, forming long queues outside the stadium to meet Andrey Rublev and Jerry Shang, two of the most adored ATP players amongst Chinese fans. The duo made dreams come true, signing autographs and taking photos, creating unforgettable moments for their supporters.

The day’s on-court action began with a revamped Captains Challenge that added fresh twists to the format. Three players from each team faced off in singles, rotating after a losing a rally and needing to secure three consecutive winners to earn a point. The third round introduced even more entertaining stipulations, such as scoring only off opponents’ errors or hitting returns beyond the service line. After an intense showdown and a tied score after three rounds, Andrey Rublev clinched victory for Team Michael Chang by edging out Casper Ruud in a single-point contest, extending their lead to 5-3.

The first singles match saw Karolina Muchova prevail over Wang Xinyu 6-3, 7-5 in a spirited contest that blended camaraderie with competitive intensity. Buoyed by the support of the large home crowd, China’s world No.37 mounted an impressive fightback in the second set but could not capitalise on the two set points she held while serving at 5-4. Her world No.22 Czech opponent held her nerve to win three games on the trot and clinch victory for her team.

“Every win is nice, and I’m happy we get to play a match before heading to Australia. In Macau, it’s been such a great experience—they treat us so well, and there are so many fans. I really enjoy my time here,” Muchova shared after the match.

Wang, ever gracious in defeat, acknowledged both her opponent’s performance and the local crowd: “It was a good match, and as always, I enjoyed playing with Karolina. It always makes me happy to play in front of the fans here in Macau.”

Following their match, both players took time to meet fans and sign autographs in the foyer of the Macao Forum, leaving attendees with treasured memories and special souvenirs from this unique event.

In the second match of the day, world No.6 Casper Ruud and world No. 8 Andrey Rublev delivered a captivating display of high-level tennis, combining precise shot-making with light-hearted antics to thrill the packed crowd. Rublev’s serve was particularly impressive, and he secured a break in each set to claim a 6-4, 7-5 victory.

“It was a great match to prepare for the upcoming season. I’d love to continue serving the way I’ve been serving the past two days, so I’m excited to see how it’s going to be in the new season,” Rublev shared post-match.

The 27-year-old also reflected on the experience of meeting the team captains and expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic support of his fans. “It was a special feeling to have Michael Chang next to my bench and to see Li Na around. I had never met them before, so it was a pleasure and an honour to chat with them. I’m also incredibly thankful for the fans who came with posters and signs to cheer me on. They’ve made my time here truly enjoyable and unforgettable.”

With Team Michael Chang sealing their overall triumph, thanks to six points earned from consecutive victories, the event’s final match transformed into a joyful spectacle befitting the festive spirit of Christmas. Jerry Shang and Kei Nishikori delighted the crowd with a playful display of trick shots, comedic antics, and infectious laughter. Shang, who ultimately claimed a 6-3, 6-4 victory, even handed his racquet to a ball boy at one point, allowing him to play a point—a moment that had the audience roaring with delight.

“Exhibitions are always special,” said the 19-year-old Shang. “You get an amazing crowd on the court, and the team energy adds another layer of fun. Kei and I talked before the match and decided to use the opportunity to practice some shots we wouldn’t normally try in a competitive setting. We had a lot of fun while still playing some good tennis. Macau has been incredibly fun, and everything about this event has been great—I’m sure I’ll be back in no time.”

With the final score standing at 11-6 after two days of thrilling matches, Michael Chang paid tribute to his victorious team and the enthusiastic crowd. “It’s been great to have such an incredible team—everyone played fantastic and contributed. We hit some amazing shots, had a lot of fun along the way, and got the job done. It was truly special to see Macau tennis fans come out and spend their Christmas Day with us,” said the winning captain.

Chang also spoke of the success of the event and the joy it brought him personally. “My family and I have absolutely loved our time here. The event was so well organised, and it’s been a real privilege to be part of it. I’m already asking if there’s any chance I can come back!” he added with a smile.

As the curtains close on this year’s MGM Macau Tennis Masters, the excitement is already building for next year’s event. We look forward to welcoming even more tennis stars and fans in 2025 for another unforgettable celebration of sport, culture, and community here in Macau.

Co-organised by MGM and IMG, the “2024 MGM Macau Tennis Masters” is honoured to have the support of the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, Macao Government Tourism Office, and the Macau Tennis Association, together with our distinguished partners, including the official outfitter FILA, official airline Eva Air and the official water Bonaqua. 

For more information, please visit the official event website at www.MGMMacauTennis.com. 

Wimbledon Day Four Picks – Does Stefanos Tsitsipas Have Enough In The Tank Against Andy Murray?

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Casper Ruud vs. Liam Broady

When a British fast-court player who is not afraid to play on grass is drawn against a European clay-courter who went deep at the French Open and skipped the entire grass court season leading into Wimbledon, you would more likely to pick the Brit in this scenario right? However, in this second round Centre Court match at Wimbledon between Liam Broady and Casper Ruud, we are going to go with the two-time French Open runner-up. This is not your grandfather’s grass courts and it is not as much of advantage for the fast court players against the clay courters. Remember, Ruud also got to the U.S. Open final last year on faster courts.

Andy Murray vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas doesn’t have a lot of time to recover mentally and physically from his fifth-set tiebreaker win late Wednesday over Dominic Thiem. To boot, beating an in-form, fit and highly motivated Andy Murray on Centre Court at Wimbledon is about as tough an ask as you can have. Murray wins this in four sets, but look for Tstisipas and girlfriend Paula Badosa to have some fun in mixed doubles and hopefully make a run.

Donna Vekic vs. Sloane Stephens

Sloane Stephens has the better resume in her match with Donna Vekic with a U.S. Open title and a French Open runner-up but Vekic is higher-ranked and a better UTR (12.64 to 12.43). Vekic has a runner-up showing in Berlin on grass under her belt and we think she will prevail here in three sets as she seems to be trending upward of late and benefitting from the wisdom given to her by her coach Pam Shriver, who has won a lot of grass court matches in her career. Vekic could make a nice run here this year.

Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas

With Tom Brady Watching On, Novak Djokovic Wins Record 23rd Major Title At Roland Garros

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BY JAMES BECK

If there was any doubt that Novak Djokovic would win his record 23rd Grand Slam title on Sunday, it disappeared after five games.

That’s when Djokovic became the true Novak, and Young Casper Ruud could start looking for another Grand Slam in which to claim his fame. So much for Ruud’s chances to stop his streak of losses in Grand Slam finals at two.

Novak won five of the next seven games and then lost only one point in the tiebreaker. The Serbian great was on his way to a 7-6 (1), 6-3, 7-5 victory in the French Open’s men’s  singles championship match.

EVEN TOM BRADY JOINED THE FUN

Rudd appeared to spend much of the second set in dismay, showing little intensity and effort, and at times apparently deciding not to waste his energy chasing some of Novak’s sizzling forehands and backhands to the corners.

Everyone appeared to be happy to get this one over with and start the victory celebration.

Even NFL legend quarterback Tom Brady, sitting in the Djokovic player guest box, was happy to get a victory hug from Djokovic.

And, of course, Novak’s young son and daughter were proud of their dad’s achievements.

And they should be. Novak is and was great.

Yes, it was a great day for tennis.

NOVAK WAS SIMPLY AWESOME

Even Ruud smiled when Novak told the crowd and super-nice Casper in the victory celebration that the Norwegian could win any Grand Slam final that Novak wasn’t in.

Of course, Ruud had reason for losing all three sets.

Novak was awesome, probably never better. The 36-year-old played as well as he did a decade earlier.

Djokovic might even have beaten Rafa Nadal in this one if Rafa hadn’t been sitting out with a hip injury. Maybe next year when Rafa is well, the two will have the chance for one last showdown on the red clay of Roland Garros.

As far as Djokovic’s greatness, there is no doubt he is one of the greatest players ever. He just further cemented his place in the greatest ever club with Roger Federer, Nadal and Rod Laver.

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James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

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Novak Djokovic

Roland Garros Final-Round Picks – Will Iga Swiatek or Novak Djokovic Be Shock Upset Losers?

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Iga Swiatek vs. Karolina Muchova

Karolina Muchova has had a breakthrough Grand Slam tournament by reaching her first major final. She was down 2-5, 0-30 in the third set against No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals before coming back to win. Muchova will probably have a bit of a feeling of satisfaction just getting to a major final and will probably have some nerves in the final too. This is old hat to Iga Swiatek, who will be gunning for her third French title and fourth overall major. She hasn’t lost a set en route to the final and won’t lose one in the final either. You may see Muchova swing for the fences with nothing to lose at some point and will keep it close but Swiatek is your 2023 Roland Garros women’s singles champions.

Novak Djokovic vs. Casper Ruud

This will be history as Novak Djokovic will win his record-breaking 23rd major title. As Mary Carillo said on NBC Sports, he’s got a great chance to also win the Grand Slam by also sweeping Wimbledon (where he is a huge favorite) and also the U.S. Open. Ruud might make it interesting by grabbing a set but Novak reigns supreme in Paris this year.

Roland Garros Day 13 Picks – Who Will Win Between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz?

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Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic

Sergi Bruguera, the two-time French Open champion, called the much anticipated Roland Garros semifinal between Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic as the “match of the year.”

https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/article/rg2023-bruguera-alcaraz-djokovic-semi-most-exciting-match-of-the-year

This could be a generational battle talked about for years, not unlike the Roger Federer vs. Pete Sampras clash at Wimbledon in 2001. Alcaraz is 20 and Djokovic is 36, which is about as big as an age difference as you can have in pro tennis these days. Alcaraz won their only previous meeting in Madrid on clay in altitude, but beating Djokovic in a best-of-five set match at a Grand Slam tournament is about as difficult a task as there is in sports. You could flip a coin on this one, but we are leaning towards the youth of Alcaraz and the fact that Djokovic has seemed to struggle more getting to this round than Alcaraz. May the better man on this day win!

Alexander Zverev vs. Casper Ruud

Alexander Zverev has exercised a lot of ghosts this year at Roland Garros from his previous appearance at the French Championships where he severely injured his ankle while in a titanic battle with Rafael Nadal in the semifinals in 2022. Zverev, we hope, will not get injured again this year and will have greater fortune with an upset over Casper Ruud, the defending French runner-up. Zverev has a slightly higher UTR (15.97 to 15.92) and he seems to be trending upward and eager make amends for unfinished business from 2022.

Roland Garros Day 11 Picks – Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune Is The Man

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Ons Jabeur vs. Bea Haddad-Maia

Ons Jabeur declared herself 100 percent fit for Roland Garros at the start of the event, after months dealing with injury woes. Perhaps she came into the French Championships with little expectations, but she will reach the semifinals in Paris for the first time with a win over Haddad-Maia who won’t have much fight after her nearly four hour round of 16 win.

Iga Swiatek vs. Coco Gauff

This quarterfinal is a rematch of the 2022 French final that was won by Swiatek 6-1, 6-3. Swiatek has cruised into the semifinals losing only nine games, while Gauff has been off at times. Swiatek will face added resistance against Gauff but ultimately will prevail.

Alexander Zverev vs. Tomas Etcheverry

Etcheverry, playing in his first major quarterfinal, is going to, deep down, be happy with his result, while Zverev feels he has more track to run on in Paris and will win in straight sets.

Holger Rune vs. Casper Ruud

If you go to the Universal Tennis (MyUTR.com) website, you will see that Casper Ruud has a 15.92 rating. You will also find out that Holger Rune is listed by his full name Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune and his UTR is 16.09. The man with four names will prevail.

Holger Rune

Roland Garros Day Nine Picks – Grigor Dimitrov Channels His Inner Lacoste

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Alexander Zverev vs. Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov has flown under the radar this week. The only attention he has received basically is because he is outfitted in Lacoste starting this week. In the fourth round he faces Alexander Zverev, who registered a tough and satisfying win over No. 12 Frances Tiafoe.  While Zverev is seeded No. 22 and Dimitrov is seeded No. 28, it is Dimitrov who has the slightly better UTR – a 15.89 against a 15.82 for Zverev. Based on that bit of info and that Dimitrov may be channeling some French magic from Rene Lacoste, the man for whom much in French tennis originated from, we will give the nod to the Bulgarian.

Tomas Etcheverry vs. Yosihito Nishioka

Nishioka is seeded No. 27 and Etcheverry is ranked No. 49. However, we are going to go with the Argentine here since clay is his natural, preferred and best surface and it’s not for Nishioka. And Etcheverry has a 15.81 UTR and Nishioka is considerably less for a fourth round match at a Grand Slam tennis tournament with a 15.59.

Holger Rune/Casper Ruud Double

The two Scandinavians – Holger Rune from Denmark and Casper Ruud from Norway – are destined to play in the quarterfinals so look them both to advance in their fourth round matches – Rune vs. Francisco Cerundolo and Ruud over Nicolas Jarry, but not without both being at least four sets.

Grigor Dimitrov

Day Seven Roland Garros Picks – Casper Ruud Coming Into Form

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Alexander Zverev vs. Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe is the higher seed here at No. 12 against Alexander Zverev at No. 22, but Zverev has the better current UTR at 15.81 against 15.76 for Tiafoe. Zverev is certainly the better clay court player with the better clay court resume and getting back into form after his devastating injury in the semifinals of Roland Garros last year. We give the edge to Zverev here to get through.

Zie Zhang vs. Casper Ruud

Zie Zhang has received a lot of buzz of late and making history for Chinese men’s tennis. Ruud, by contrast, has struggled of late after his stellar 2022 season where he was runner-up at the French and U.S. Opens and was on the cusp of world No. 1.  There’s an astonishing gap in the UTRs of these two players with Zie Zhang at a 14.69 and Casper Ruud is a 15.95. That’s over one point, which is huge at this level. With that, we are going with Ruud to be the easy winner here.

Lesia Tsurenko vs. Bianca Andreescu

Sticking with our UTR picking style, Tsurenko has a UTR of 12.64 and the much more accomplished and recognizable Bianca Andreescu, the former U.S. Open champion, has a slightly lower UTR of 12.61. Clay is not the best surface for Andreescu, who is just getting into match shape again after her ankle injury at the Miami Open. Tsurenko is not just playing for herself, but her country Ukraine, so we will go with Tsurenko to win here.