At the 2026 Laver Cup, the value of each win increases as the tournament progresses: every match is worth 1 point on Friday, 2 points on Saturday and 3 points on Sunday. The first team to reach 13 points wins. This structure means the title cannot be decided before Sunday, because Friday and Saturday together offer a maximum of 12 points.
The Laver Cup scoring system as a timeline
The 2026 edition will be played from September 25 to 27 in London. The official schedule lists four matches on Friday, four on Saturday and up to four regular matches on Sunday.
| Day | Regular matches | Points per win | Points available that day | Cumulative points available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Sept. 25 | 4 | 1 point | 4 | 4 |
| Saturday, Sept. 26 | 4 | 2 points | 8 | 12 |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 | up to 4 | 3 points | up to 12 | 24 in the full regular schedule |
So even if one team wins all eight matches on Friday and Saturday, it would enter Sunday with 12 points. It would still need a Sunday win, worth 3 points, to pass the 13-point target.
Why do wins rise from 1 to 2 and then 3 points?
The mathematical effect of the system is straightforward: it keeps the title undecided until the final day and gives matches more weight as the competition approaches its finish. With 24 points available in the complete regular schedule, 13 is an outright majority of that total.
The format also leaves room for comebacks. A lead built on Friday carries less weight than a run of wins on Sunday. The early results still matter, but the final-day matches have a larger effect on the aggregate score.
What happens when a team reaches 13 points?
The competition ends as soon as one team reaches the required total. That is why not every scheduled Sunday match necessarily has to be played. Sunday starts with a doubles match, followed by up to three singles matches, all listed as “if required.” If only one match is needed to decide the winner, the official schedule provides for an exhibition match after the trophy ceremony.
The official 2026 schedule is available at lavercup.com/schedule.
What if the Laver Cup is tied 12–12 after all 12 matches?
If all 12 regular matches are completed and the aggregate score is tied at 12–12, the Laver Cup is decided by an extra doubles match referred to in official materials as “The Decider.”
This decider is not a full best-of-three-sets match. The official rule calls for one regular doubles set with ad scoring and a tiebreak. The team that wins that extra set wins the Laver Cup.
Do not confuse the competition decider with the third-set tiebreak
Two different rules can sound similar. In normal singles and doubles matches, play is best of three sets with ad scoring; if the teams split the first two sets, the third is replaced by a 10-point match tiebreak.
The overall Laver Cup decider exists only if the team score is 12–12 after the 12 regular matches. In that situation, an extra doubles set is played with ad scoring and a tiebreak. The distinction matters: one rule decides an individual match; the other decides the tournament champion.
How to follow the score without getting lost
- Friday: each win adds 1 point.
- Saturday: each win adds 2 points.
- Sunday: each win adds 3 points.
- Target: the first team to reach 13 wins.
- 12–12 after 12 matches: an extra doubles decider is played.
For updated rules and times, the most useful references are the official Laver Cup FAQ, the tournament schedule and the 2026 event guide.
