Put the primary Laver Cup roster subsequent to the present one and there may be an apparent winner in a single class. Identify worth. The inaugural 2017 version had Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the identical crew, with a 20-year-old Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem and Tomas Berdych beside them. Crew World introduced Nick Kyrgios, John Isner, Jack Sock and a number of other different recognisable names.
That’s troublesome to compete with. However identify worth and taking part in power should not essentially the identical factor. If we ignore what these gamers ultimately achieved and as an alternative evaluate how extremely they have been truly ranked when every p came about, the 2026 discipline holds up remarkably effectively.
In truth, from high to backside, it might be deeper.
What Did the First Laver Cup Really Look Like?
For the inaugural occasion in Prague, the ultimate six-man Crew Europe was Nadal, Federer, Zverev, Cilic, Thiem and Berdych. Their ATP rankings on September 18 2017 have been:
Rafael Nadal No. 1, Roger Federer No. 2, Alexander Zverev No. 4, Marin Cilic No. 5, Dominic Thiem No. 7 and Tomas Berdych No. 19. That’s absurdly robust. 5 of the six have been contained in the High ten, whereas Berdych was hardly some weak closing choice at No. 19. Europe had a median rating of No. 6.3.;
Crew World was significantly weaker on paper. Sam Querrey was No. 16, John Isner No. 17, s No. 20, Jack Sock No. 21, Denis Shapovalov No. 51 and Frances Tiafoe No. 72. Tiafoe had entered late after Juan Martin del Potro withdrew. The common Crew World rating was due to this fact No. 32.8. That tells you nearly all the pieces in regards to the first Laver Cup.
Europe was ridiculous. World was entertaining. The general discipline was not almost as balanced as reminiscence typically makes it appear.
Now Evaluate That With 2026
The present Crew Europe consists of Alexander Zverev No. 2, z No. 3, Flavio Cobolli No. 7, r No. 14, Jakub Mensik No. 15 and Casper Ruud No. 17.
Crew World’s closing six are Alex de Minaur No. 9, Taylor Fritz No. 10, Learner Tien No. 13, Brandon Nakashima No. 16, Alexander Bublik No. 21 ando No. 22.
These are the ATP rankings from the September 21 record instantly earlier than the occasion. Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul had initially been chosen for Crew World, however each have been changed earlier than play started, with Nakashima and Cerundolo coming into the ultimate competitors roster. That leaves Crew Europe with a median rating of roughly No. 9.7 and Crew World at No. 15.2.
Extra importantly, each single participant on the 2026 Laver Cup is ranked contained in the High 22. That was nowhere near being true in 2017.
So Which Area Was Really Higher?
That is the place it turns into fascinating. Each editions featured 5 High ten gamers. In 2017, they have been Nadal, Federer, Zverev, Cilic and Thiem. In 2026, they’re Zverev, Alcaraz, Cobolli, De Minaur and Fritz.
So on the very high, the numbers are surprisingly comparable. The distinction comes farther down. The median rating of the 2017 discipline was No. 16.5. In 2026, it’s No. 13.5. The common rating throughout all 12 gamers was roughly No. 19.6 in 2017 in contrast with roughly No. 12.4 this 12 months.
That could be a significant hole. The primary version had two gamers ranked exterior the High 50 in Shapovalov and Tiafoe. This 12 months’s lowest-ranked participant is Cerundolo at No. 22. The inaugural discipline additionally had an enormous imbalance between the groups. Europe’s common rating was round No. 6 whereas World’s was almost No. 33.
This 12 months the hole is way smaller. Europe averages round No. 10. World averages round No. 15. Purely as a aggressive tennis occasion, that issues.
However 2017 Had One thing 2026 Can’t Replicate
Numbers can’t completely seize what walked onto the court docket in Prague. Nadal was No. 1. Federer was No. 2. Each have been having monumental seasons. Nadal had already gained Roland Garros and the US Open in 2017. Federer had gained the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Between them, that they had taken all 4 Grand Slams that season earlier than arriving in Prague.
Then there was Zverev at No. 4, Cilic at No. 5 and Thiem at No. 7. That peak is stronger than what 2026 affords. Zverev and Alcaraz give the present European crew two real elite gamers, whereas Cobolli arrives at No. 7 after a breakthrough season. However there is no such thing as a present No. 1 taking part in, with Jannik Sinner absent.
So if the query is which version had the strongest assortment of superstars on the very high, 2017 wins pretty comfortably. If the query is which version has the stronger participant sitting within the fifth, sixth, tenth or twelfth slot, 2026 turns into way more convincing.
The Final Phrase
The primary Laver Cup stays nearly not possible to beat aesthetically. Federer and Nadal collectively. Kyrgios on the opposite facet. A younger Zverev and Thiem. Berdych, Cilic, Isner and Sock.
Even Shapovalov and Tiafoe felt thrilling as a result of they represented what may come subsequent. That roster regarded like an occasion. The 2026 version doesn’t have fairly the identical aura. However take the names away and look solely at the place all people stood in males’s tennis when the occasion started, and the comparability adjustments.
The inaugural Laver Cup had the higher high finish. The present Laver Cup has the higher depth. In 2017, the sector stretched from No. 1 to No. 72. In 2026, it stretches from No. 2 to No. 22. That most likely sums it up greatest.
Prague had extra star energy. London has fewer weak hyperlinks.
Major Photograph Credit score: Imagn Photos by way of Reuters
