De Minaur draws blood in comeback victory over Zverev in Laver Cup as Europe puts Alcaraz up next

LONDON (AP) — Alex de Minaur had blood trickling down his right leg after a diving volley he produced during a 2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9 comeback victory over Alexander Zverev that gave Team World a 5-3 lead over Europe at the Laver Cup on Saturday.

It was a big start to the competition's middle day for the squad captained by Andre Agassi after Learner Tien outlasted Flavio Cobolli in a series of grueling baseline rallies to secure a 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 victory in the opening match.

“If you can notice, my blood is red as well,” De Minaur said, referring to the color of Team World's shirts. “It was a very tough match. A tough battle. I left it all out there and got fortunate in the end to get the job done and happy to give some points for Team World.”

Europe had led 3-1 after Friday's play.

“We were in the same position last year and it worked out pretty well for us,” De Minaur said. “We know we can do some damage. We know we’re the underdogs, but we also know that we can step out on this court and light it up.”

Zverev served for the match in the second set but double-faulted to hand De Minaur a break and the Australian stormed back into it.

Early in the match tiebreaker, De Minaur leaped for a volley and ended up sprawled on the black court inside the O2 Arena before popping back up as Zverev's reply sailed out.

A few points later, Zverev also went down in a worrisome moment but appeared uninjured after his feet slipped out from under him as he hit a backhand.

Zverev then wasted a match point when he played passively and chipped a forehand wide.

There was more caution from Zverev on De Minaur's first match point as the French Open and U.S. Open champion hit a weak overhead to let the Australian back into the point. De Minaur then produced a backhand up the line that Zverev couldn't get back.

How did De Minaur keep believing?

“Keep asking questions. Give yourself a chance. And you never know if you put the ball in the court, you might get lucky," he said. "So that’s what I did today.”

Zverev's defeat ended his nine-match winning streak after the second-ranked player had followed his U.S. Open title with two Davis Cup victories for Germany last weekend.

The day's opening match also had drama.

On Tien’s first match point, he produced a blistering forehand passing shot that Cobolli could barely get his racket on to conclude a 34-shot rally.

The 13th-ranked Tien was making his Laver Cup debut.

Up next in the night session at the O2 Arena, it’s Carlos Alcaraz vs. Taylor Fritz before Zverev partners with Casper Ruud against Alexander Bublik and Brandon Nakashima in doubles.

There are four matches per day in the three-day event.

Wins are worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday and three points on Sunday. The first team to reach 13 points wins.

Europe has won the Laver Cup five times while Team World took its third title in last year’s edition of the Ryder Cup-style event.

Yannick Noah is Europe's captain.

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Team Europe's Flavio Cobolli is greeted by Carlos Alcaraz and team captain Yannick Noah during a break in his match against Team World's Learner Tien during the Laver Cup tennis tournament in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Team World's Learner Tien celebrates after beating Team Europe's Flavio Cobolli in a Laver Cup tennis tournament match in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Team World's Alex De Minaur celebrates after beating Team Europe's Alexander Zverev in a Laver Cup tennis tournament match in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Team Europe's Alexander Zverev slips and falls during a rally against Team World's Alex De Minaur during a Laver Cup tennis tournament match in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Team World's Alex De Minaur celebrates with Team World captain Andre Agassi after beating Team Europe's Alexander Zverev in a Laver Cup tennis tournament match in London, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)

Communities across the United States, Hawaii and Mexico brace for powerful storms, from a strengthening nor’easter along the East Coast to hurricanes Nolo and Polo in the Pacific, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, flooding and rough seas.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Ryanna Fry takes a picture of clouds as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby in Kona, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A cormorant takes flight from a floating dock as windsurfers rip along the shore during a nor'easter storm at Pleasure Bay, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A list of mainly canceled flights are displayed at Hilo International Airport as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Constantin Krempp, of France, holds his son Damien's hand as they walk along a seawall during a nor'easter storm, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hampton, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Darren Montalvo loads into the bed of his truck sand bags he will use to help keep water out of his restaurant as Hurricane Nolo approaches in Hilo, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Chuck and Teresa Palmieri move lawn furniture to a safe location at a relative's seaside property as the Atlantic Ocean kicks up surf during the early stages of a nor'easter storm, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Gloucester, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Atlantic ocean's heavy surf rolls in during a nor'easter storm, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hampton, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

People walk past a closed ticket counter for Southwest Airlines lined with sandbags at Hilo International Airport as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Alberto Montalvo wades through a flooded section of Atlantic Ave. during a nor'easter storm in Long Branch, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Louie Taasan places sand bags along his driveway as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Ted Friedli kayaks his way through a flooded section of Florence Ave. during a nor'easter in Long Branch, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Spectators watch wave break during a nor'easter storm, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hampton, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Kenzielynn Kekoa, center, of Hilo, Hawaii, helps her family fill sand bags as Hurricane Nolo approaches in Hilo, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)