Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul have both pulled out of the 2025 Laver Cup after picking up injuries at the US Open.
It’s a pretty big blow for Team World, especially since they’re hosting the event this year.
The eighth edition runs from September 19th to 21st in San Francisco. Team World was really hoping to make the most of home court advantage, but they’ll have to do it without two of their top players.
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Both teams had already announced their full lineups. Team Europe’s new captain Yannick Noah and vice-captain Tim Henman picked a solid squad: Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, and Flavio Cobolli.
Team World’s new captain Andre Agassi and vice-captain Pat Rafter originally went with Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Francisco Cerundolo, and Joao Fonseca.
But that lineup just changed. Shelton and Paul, who were the No. 2 and No. 3 players on the team based on ATP rankings, both had to withdraw because of injuries from the US Open.
Shelton’s withdrawal was particularly tough to watch. He’d been cruising through his first two matches without dropping a set, then ran into Adrian Mannarino in the third round.
The American was actually winning 2-1 in sets when disaster struck. He hurt his shoulder at the start of the fourth set and had to retire from the match.
Paul’s situation was different but just as disappointing. His third-round battle against Alexander Bublik turned into an absolute marathon – a five-set war that lasted hours.
Bublik eventually won 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1, but Paul clearly took a beating in the process. The American also had to pull out of the Laver Cup afterward.
For Shelton, this would’ve been his third Laver Cup appearance. Paul was looking forward to his second time at the event.
Instead, Team World will get some fresh faces. Shelton and Paul have been replaced by Reilly Opelka, who played the Laver Cup once back in 2021, and Alex Michelsen, who’s never competed at the event.
Young stars take over the Laver Cup
Even without Shelton and Paul, the lineups for both teams look pretty strong. There’s going to be a lot of debuts this year, which should make things interesting.
Jakub Mensik, Flavio Cobolli, Holger Rune, and Joao Fonseca will all be playing their first Laver Cup. That’s a lot of young talent getting their first taste of the event.
Cobolli’s really excited about the opportunity.
"The Laver Cup is one of the most exciting events in our sport. It was incredible to be part of it last year, and it was my goal to play this year. To be named to the team and compete for Team Europe will be really special, I cannot wait."
It’s also going to be a new experience for the captains. Both teams have fresh leadership this year, which could shake things up tactically.
Noah’s known as a fierce competitor, and he’s already thinking about strategy.
"Winning the Laver Cup is always a challenge, and this year will be no different. Our team has the talent, experience and the hunger to defend the Laver Cup against a very strong Team World and we are all ready to go."
The format hasn’t changed – it’s still that unique team tennis setup where Europe faces off against the rest of the world. But with so many new faces and new leadership, this year’s event could have a really different feel.
Team World will definitely miss having Shelton and Paul, but Opelka and Michelsen bring their own strengths. Opelka’s serve is always dangerous, and Michelsen’s been having a solid year.
The question now is whether the home crowd in San Francisco can help push Team World over the line, or if Team Europe’s experience will win out again.
