Tennis News

Collignon stars as Belgium shocks Australia in Davis Cup

Raphael Collignon capped a dream weekend at the Davis Cup qualifiers for both himself and Belgium with a decisive comeback victory against Aleksandar Vukic on Sunday in Sydney.

Having battled cramps on Saturday during a three-set upset of World No. 8 Alex de Minaur, Collignon outlasted Vukic 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 to earn Belgium a stunning 3-2 win at Ken Rosewall Arena. The No. 91 in the PIF ATP Rankings broke Vukic’s serve twice in each of the second and third sets to complete a memorable triumph for the European nation.

Almighty Raphael 👑

Collignon completes the comeback against Vukic 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3, sealing Belgium’s place in Bologna’s final 8! 🇧🇪@DavisCup | #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/6nXyBvEUQF

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 14, 2025

Despite heading into Sunday’s action trailing 0-2, Australia threatened to pull off a memorable comeback after drawing level at 2-2. Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson prevailed 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles rubber against Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, before De Minaur downed Zizou Bergs 6-2, 7-5. Yet the 23-year-old Collignon had other ideas.

“Yesterday was very demanding physically,” said Collignon after his win over Vukic, as reported by the Davis Cup website. “I was trying to recover as well as I could for today. It was a long day to wait but I tried to recover as I could to be ready for this match and I’m very happy how I played.

“Physically I was feeling okay. With adrenaline and the energy from the bench it was crazy, I didn’t feel the legs at all. It was a crazy atmosphere and a crazy match.”

A Davis Cup finalist in 2015 and 2017, Belgium is into the last eight in the Davis Cup for the first time since 2018. The 2025 Davis Cup Final 8 will be held in Bologna from 18-23 November. Alongside Belgium, the other qualified countries so far are host Italy, Argentina, Austria, Czechia, France and Germany.

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Laver Cup: Teams, Dates, History & All You Need To Know

The Laver Cup is a three-day team competition, where six men’s players from Europe compete against six players from the rest of the world. The venue changes every year. This year, the event will be held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, from 19-21 September. Among those in action will be Top 10 stars Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, representing Team Europe, and Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur, representing Team World.

Here’s what you need to know about the eighth edition of the Laver Cup.

When is the Laver Cup?

The Laver Cup will run for three days, from Friday 19 September to Sunday 21 September at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, home of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries. The inaugural edition of the Laver Cup was played in Prague, Czechia, in 2017.

Who is playing at the Laver Cup?

The following players are scheduled to compete at this year’s Laver Cup:
Team Europe: Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik and Flavio Cobolli
Team World: Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Francisco Cerundolo, Joao Fonseca, Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka

Who are the team captains and vice captains this year at the Laver Cup?

Starting this year, Yannick Noah, who replaced Bjorn Borg, will captain Team Europe. Tim Henman is the Vice Captain of Team Europe. Andre Agassi has replaced John McEnroe and will lead Team World. Patrick Rafter is the Vice Captain of Team World.

What is the format of the Laver Cup?

The event consists of five sessions played over three days. The first team to win 13 points (out of a total of 24 points) wins the trophy. If the score is tied after 12 matches, a final doubles match is played to determine the winner.

Matches on Day 1 are worth one point each, matches on Day 2 are worth two points each and matches on Day 3 are worth three points each.

What is the schedule for the Laver Cup?

Friday, 19 September: Day Session- Match 1 (Singles) starts at 1 p.m. PT, followed by Match 2 (Singles). Night Session- Match 3 (Singles) starts at 7 p.m. PT, followed by Match 4 (Doubles).

Saturday, 20 September: Day Session- Match 5 (Singles) starts at 1 p.m. PT, followed by Match 6 (Singles). Night Session- Match 7 (Singles) starts at 7 p.m. PT, followed by Match 8 (Doubles).

Sunday, 21 September: Day Session- Match 9 (Doubles) starts at 12 p.m. PT, followed by three singles matches- Match 10, Match 11 and Match 12- if required.

View on Official Website

How can I watch the Laver Cup?

Broadcast information can be found here.

How can I follow the Laver Cup?

Facebook: Laver Cup
Instagram: lavercup
TikTok: @lavercup
X: @LaverCup
YouTube: LaverCup

Who won the Laver Cup in 2024?

Team Europe won the Laver Cup in 2024 in Berlin. Alcaraz defeated Fritz 6-2, 7-5 in the deciding singles clash to secure a thrilling 13-11 comeback victory for the European team. It was Team Europe’s first victory since 2021 after Team World captured back-to-back crowns in 2022 and 2023.

What are the former host cities of the Laver Cup?

Prague, Czechia, in 2017
Chicago, USA, in 2018
Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019
Boston, USA, in 2021
London, United Kingdom, in 2022
Vancouver, Canada, in 2023
Berlin, Germany, in 2024

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Lehecka upsets Fritz, Mensik seals Czechia's Davis Cup comeback vs United States

When Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram triumphed in a tightly contested doubles rubber Saturday in Delray Beach, it seemed the United States was in control of its Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round tie against Czechia. But Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik had a plan of their own.

Lehecka upset Taylor Fritz, the No. 5 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, to keep Czechia’s hopes alive. Mensik then sealed the tie for his country, 3-2, with a late-night win against Frances Tiafoe.

During a long day in Florida that featured a lengthy lightning delay, Lehecka walked on court at the home of the Delray Beach Open knowing he needed to overcome an 0-4 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Fritz. The recent US Open quarter-finalist did exactly that, upsetting the American 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Fritz fought hard against the Czech, whom he beat in a final-set tie-break in Toronto less than two months ago. But Lehecka put consistent pressure on the top-ranked player in the tie, earning 17 break points and converting three of them to level at 2-2.

That allowed Mensik the opportunity to play the hero in the same state where he claimed ATP Masters 1000 glory earlier this year at the Miami Open presented by Itau. The 23-year-old eased past Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4 around the stroke of midnight to send his country to Bologna.

Krajicek and Ram, the Paris Olympics silver medalists, had given the United States a 2-1 advantage with a battling 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 victory against Tomas Machac and Mensik.

The countries that have already qualified for the Davis Cup Final 8 are defending champion Italy, Czechia, Argentina, Austria, Germany and France. 

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GB's Cash & Glasspool beaten in Davis Cup doubles

Great Britain’s place in next year’s Davis Cup qualifiers remains uncertain after Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool were beaten in the doubles by Poland’s Karol Drzewiecki and Jan Zielinski.

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Watch Wawrinka on free Challenger TV

Stan Wawrinka will play for a spot in the Rennes Challenger final on Saturday, when he faces German Patrick Zahraj not before 4:30 p.m. CEST / 10:30 a.m. ET. Fans can tune into Challenger TV to stream all ATP Challenger Tour matches live and on demand at no cost.

A former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Wawrinka’s best result so far this season was a run to the final at the Aix-en-Provence Challenger, where he fell to former No. 12 Borna Coric in a three-hour, 11-minute final. Aiming for his eighth Challenger trophy, the 40-year-old is 15-7 at that level in 2025.

Watch Stan Wawrinka vs. Patrick Zahraj (not before 4:30 p.m. local time)

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Collignon stuns De Minaur, Belgium leads Australia 2-0 in Davis Cup

Belgium stands on the brink of an impressive away win in the Davis Cup Qualifiers second round after Raphael Collignon and Zizou Bergs delivered standout performances on Saturday in Sydney.

The No. 91 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Collignon upset World No. 8 and hometown favourite Alex de Minaur 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 inside Ken Rosewall Arena to give his country a perfect start in its bid for a spot at November’s Davis Cup Final 8. The 23-year-old Collignon appeared to have lost momentum after a bright opening set in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with De Minaur, but he dug deep and battled through cramps to earn the first Top 10 win of his career.

A herculean effort from Belgium’s Raphael Collignon beating Australia’s Alex de Minaur to give his nation a 1-0 lead 🇧🇪#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/EZ9GUumUY2

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 13, 2025

“I think when you play for your country there is no pain,” said Collignon, who also defeated Casper Ruud last month at the US Open, in his on-court interview. “We always have great players, and this is unbelievable I think for a small country like ours.”

Bergs later sank Jordan Thompson 7-6(4), 6-4 to cap a perfect day for Belgium. A three-time Davis Cup finalist, including in 2015 and 2017, Belgium will now look to Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen to wrap up victory on Saturday, when the experienced doubles duo takes on John Peers and Rinky Hijikata.

“It feels great for the team,” said Bergs after his win against Thompson. “We did a great job today but we’re far from the end still.”

Germany Books Its Spot In Bologna
Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz added the finishing touches to a dominant display from Germany in Tokyo, where the doubles stars defeated Yosuke Watanuki and Takeru Yuzuki 6-3, 7-6(4) to seal victory against Japan and their country’s spot in the Final 8.

After Jan-Lennard Struff and Yannick Hanfmann had earned singles victories on Friday, Krawietz and Puetz notched their 18th win in 19 Davis Cup rubbers as a team to ensure Germany will compete in Bologna, where Final 8 action takes place from 18-23 November. Justin Engel then celebrated his Davis Cup debut by prevailing in a clash of #NextGenATP stars. The 17-year-old Engel defeated 19-year-old Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 6-7(2), 10-7 to wrap a 4-0 triumph for Germany.

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Junior No. 1 Ivanov, 16-year-old Nadal Academy standout, 'fired up for tennis'

Rafael Nadal reached the pinnacle of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time in August 2008, shortly after beating Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final that is widely considered one of the best matches in tennis history.

Ivan Ivanov was not born until October that year. But fast-forward 16 years and the Bulgarian trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar and is the No. 1 player in the ITF Junior Rankings, fresh off victories at Wimbledon and the US Open.

There was plenty of pressure on the teen to perform in New York as the junior World No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion, but he showed few nerves in capturing another Slam title at Flushing Meadows.

“[It was] very tough, that’s for sure. [There were] expectations about that and all the eyes on you,” Ivanov told ATPTour.com. “It’s something that you have to take very specifically. But I managed it very well as we can see, and I’m very happy with that result.”

Ivanov does not come from a family of tennis players. But his father gave him his first racquet and he has not looked back.

“I just started playing. I met my first coach and like this [there was] just a connection and the people that were close to me, they made me fired up for tennis,” Ivanov said.

“I really loved the racquet sports at the beginning. I enjoyed watching with my mom some of the old-school tennis, like Roger and Stan. I mean, they’re not so old school, but I just loved watching them and I just wanted to try it. I tried it and I really loved it, which made me very happy about the sport.”

Stan Wawrinka, now 40, is 24 years the Bulgarian’s elder and still competing. The Bulgarian also looked up to the likes of countryman Grigor Dimitrov and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic, who claimed his first Slam title the year Ivanov was born. Four years ago, the Bulgarian moved to Spain to train at Nadal’s eponymous academy.

“Of course, it was very difficult because I was away from my parents and away from my mom,” Ivanov said. “But the thing [is] that I managed to come through that and they are able to come as much as possible, [so] this gave me a bit more confidence in my decision and gave me a little bit more a particular reason why should I do that.”

The 16-year-old explained that he has particularly enjoyed working with the staff at the academy. Nadal also follows Ivanov’s growth, congratulating him after his US Open win.

“They’re all super nice to me, and nice to everyone,” said Ivanov, whose main coach is Jeremy Paisan. “I love that about them. I enjoy being in the academy, and I’m so grateful to be there.”

Congratulations Ivan on winning <a href=”https://twitter.com/Wimbledon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Wimbledon & @usopen Junior 🏆!

Congrats also to all the @rnadalacademy team! 👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/gqzkgK3Lw2

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) September 6, 2025

Ivanov became the third boy this century to lift the Wimbledon and the US Open trophies in the same year, joining Dimitrov and Filip Peliwo. The Bulgarian believes he first met Dimitrov at a young age in Sofia.

“He gave me some good compliments about my game. He gave me some advice,” Ivanov said. “I was very motivated to keep going.”

That has worked for a player who also enjoys golf, reading books by the likes of Jules Verne and watching movies, “I like to be more calm,” he said.

But on the court, Ivanov is a fiery competitor who has climbed as high as No. 795 in the PIF ATP Rankings. This week, he is representing Bulgaria in Davis Cup for the first time.

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Matteo Arnaldi & Mia Savio announce engagement

Matteo Arnaldi is engaged to his girlfriend Mia Savio. The pair announced the news on social media Friday.

“Io e te per sempre 🤍,” Savio wrote in an Instagram post featuring three pictures of the couple celebrating. The post is Italian for “You and me forever.”

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A post shared by Mia (@miasavio)

Arnaldi and Savio have been together since 2022.

No. 73 in the PIF ATP Rankings Arnaldi last competed at the US Open in August, where he lost a tough five-set opening match to Francisco Cerundolo. The 24-year-old holds an 18-20 record on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Earlier this year, the Italian earned upset wins over Andrey Rublev and Novak Djokovic at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Madrid, respectively.

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Norrie & Fery put GB in control in Davis Cup tie

Cameron Norrie and Arthur Fery won their Davis Cup matches to give Great Britain a 2-0 lead over Poland and a strong chance of reaching next year’s qualifiers.

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In sea of orange, Cerundolo & Etcheverry put last year's Davis Cup finalists on alert

Argentina is on the brink of a second consecutive appearance in the Davis Cup Final 8 after Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry secured singles victories against last year’s finalists, The Netherlands, on Friday.

Etcheverry set the tone with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Dutchman Jesper de Jong, converting his fourth match point to clinch the victory. Then, Argentina’s top-ranked player, World No. 21 Cerundolo, followed with a 7-6(4), 6-1 win against Botic van de Zandschulp.

Vamos Francisco! 💪@FranCerundolo clinches it to give Argentina a 2–0 lead over last year’s finalists 👀@DavisCup | #DavisCup | @AATenis pic.twitter.com/2QVe6TN3u3

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 12, 2025

In front of an enthusiastic crowd in Groningen, Cerundolo overcame a nervy start to capture his 33rd tour-level win of the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The first set alone featured six breaks of serve, but the Argentine jumped to a 4/0 lead in the tie-break, which ultimately helped him gain a one-set advantage on the home favourite.

Argentina, 2016 Davis Cup champions, will look to apply the finishing touches on Saturday.

“It feels incredible,” Etcheverry said after his win, according to DavisCup.com. “I played very well. Getting the first point is really important.

“I’m very proud because I know what I did the past few weeks and how I have been training for this. It feels amazing. I love it. Davis Cup is really fun and I love to play here.”

The Netherlands reached the Davis Cup final in 2024, but Italy triumphed 2-0.

Germany pulls ahead of Japan
In other Davis Cup Qualifiers 2nd Round action, Germany took a 2-0 lead on the road at Japan, led by Jan-Lennard Struff and Yannick Hanfmann. Struff, former No. 21 in the PIF ATP Rankings, battled past Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 in a hard-fought clash, during which the German saved all 10 of the break points he faced. Hanfmann closed the day with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Shintaro Mochizuki.

France, Austria have early lead
France leads Croatia 1-0 after Corentin Moutet defeated #NextGenATP Dino Prizmic 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 to earn his maiden Davis Cup match win. Marin Cilic and Arthur Rinderknech will meet in the second rubber. Jurij Rodionov outlasted Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 to give Austria a 1-0 advantage over Hungary. Marton Fucsovics will look to level the tie for his home country when he faces Lukas Neumayer.

<img alt=”Corentin Moutet earns his first Davis Cup match win.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/09/12/18/24/moutet-davis-cup-2025-september.jpg” />
^{Corentin Moutet earns his first Davis Cup match win. Credit: Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images for ITF}

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