Andre Agassi called out Alexander Zverev moments after the German beat Learner Tien to clinch Laver Cup glory for Team Europe. Agassi took over as the captain of Team World 12 months ago, when they lifted the trophy on home soil in San Francisco. But facing Yannick Noah’s Team Europe inside London’s O2 Arena, they were unable to defend their crown.

Team Europe came into day three with a 7-5 lead in points, putting them two match wins away from victory. Flavio Cobolli and Jakub Mensik teamed up to beat Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz, before two-time Major champion Zverev defeated Tien 7-6(3) 6-3.

The world No. 2 had blown a commanding lead against De Minaur in one of the singles matches on day two. But he sealed his first Laver Cup match win since 2024, securing the trophy for Team Europe.

It’s been a career-best season for the German, who won a long-awaited first Major title at Roland Garros and then backed it up by winning the US Open. And Agassi jokingly took aim at Zverev’s quest to win a Grand Slam title during his runner-up speech.

Congratulations, Sascha,” Agassi said. “Crazy year, seeing you win for the first time, I know how important that was to you. It was important to me too because I could start listening to your press conferences again, where you weren’t like, ‘Uh, why do I always lose? Why do I always… Why am I third best in the world? I suck.’” the American jibed, pretending to rub his eyes as if he were sobbing.

“I mean, but then you win, and it’s like, ‘I’m only a one-time Slam champion, I gotta do it again’.”

Carlos Alcaraz also went undefeated this weekend, winning a doubles match with Mensik and then beating Fritz in a thriller on Saturday night. While Agassi was happy to see the seven-time Major champion back on tour following a four-month wrist injury layoff, he wished it had come after the Laver Cup.

“But how great is it to have Carlitos back in the house? My man, we missed you. The game really, really missed you. In real-time, I missed you. I was praying every day that your wrist would get better, like somewhere in October, not before this weekend,” he laughed.

Agassi also had some kind words for his Team World players and vice-captain Pat Rafter – and apologised for the result. “To my guys over here, if I’ve let you down in any way, I’m sorry,” he continued.

“But I wanna say, thank you for laying it all out here, for giving all of yourselves, including blood. I’ve walked off a tennis court in London in pain many times, and there’s a little pain today because of how much I respect and appreciate you guys. The only difference is this time I don’t have to wear white, thank God, and I get to take something with me, which is your friendships, your commitment, everything you’ve taught me and just your heart, the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen on a tennis court.

To my co-man, love you, brother. I would do anything for you, and I wouldn’t do this without you, so thank you.”

Team World will be out for revenge next year, when the Laver Cup will head to Los Angeles for its 10th edition. Addressing Team Europe’s captain, Agassi added: “Remember Yannick last year, when we beat you at home and you said how much you hated playing us at home?

“We have something in common, now. Playing you guys at home sucks. Well done, guys, it’s a pleasure watching you play live and sitting next to you. I mean, each and every one of you.