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Andy Roddick Responds to Andre Agassi's Comments on Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup
Amir Azimi
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Andy Roddick Responds to Andre Agassi's Comments on Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup

Team Europe Triumphs Over Team World at 2026 Laver Cup

Team Europe secured a 13-5 victory against Team World at the 2026 Laver Cup. Alexander Zverev clinched the win for his team by defeating Learner Tien in straight sets.

Andre Agassi’s Post-Match Remarks on Zverev

After the match, Team World captain Andre Agassi took a lighthearted jab at world number two Zverev. He said, "Congratulations, Sascha, on an incredible year. Seeing you win your first Grand Slam was huge — not just for you but for me too, because I could finally listen to your press conferences again without hearing complaints like, ‘Why do I always lose? Why am I only third best? I suck.’ Then you win, and suddenly it’s, ‘I’m only a one-time Slam champ; I’ve got to do it again.’"

Andy Roddick Reacts to Agassi’s Comments

Former world number one Andy Roddick shared his thoughts on Agassi’s words during the latest episode of the Served with Andy Roddick podcast. He noted Agassi’s skill in shifting moods quickly — moving from teasing Zverev to offering a sincere message to his team that couldn’t win a match on the final day.

Roddick explained, "Andre has an amazing ability to switch gears fast. He can roast Zverev, then turn around and give a heartfelt talk to his team. His players clearly enjoy playing for him."

On Zverev’s response to criticism, Roddick added, "Say what you want about Sascha, but if you call him out, he usually takes it well. I’ve criticized his game before, and he often agrees with the points."

Zverev’s Record Since March 2026

  • Indian Wells: Semi-final, 4 wins (Matteo Berrettini, Brandon Nakashima, Frances Tiafoe, Arthur Fils), lost to Jannik Sinner
  • Miami Open: Semi-final, 4 wins (Martin Damm Jr, Marin Cilic, Quentin Halys, Francisco Cerundolo), lost to Jannik Sinner
  • Monte Carlo Masters: Semi-final, 3 wins (Cristian Garin, Zizou Bergs, Joao Fonseca), lost to Jannik Sinner
  • Munich Open: Semi-final, 3 wins (Miomir Kecmanovic, Gabriel Diallo, Francisco Cerundolo), lost to Flavio Cobolli
  • Madrid Open: Final, 5 wins (Mariano Navone, Terence Atmane, Jakub Mensik, Flavio Cobolli, Alexander Blockx), lost to Jannik Sinner
  • Italian Open: Fourth round, 2 wins (Daniel Altmaier, Alexander Blockx), lost to Luciano Darderi
  • French Open: Champion, 7 wins (Benjamin Bonzi, Tomas Machac, Quentin Halys, Jesper De Jong, Rafael Jodar, Jakub Mensik, Flavio Cobolli)
  • Halle Open: Semi-final, 3 wins (Vit Kopriva, Yannick Hanfmann, Raphael Collignon), lost to Taylor Fritz
  • Wimbledon: Final, 6 wins (Alexander Blockx, Valentin Royer, Marcos Giron, Jiri Lehecka, Taylor Fritz, Arthur Fery), lost to Jannik Sinner
  • Canadian Open: Second round, 0 wins, lost to Tallon Griekspoor
  • Cincinnati Open: Fourth round, 2 wins (Cameron Norrie, Terence Atmane), lost to Tommy Paul
  • US Open: Champion, 7 wins (Lorenzo Sonego, Quentin Halys, Alejandro Tabilo, Luciano Darderi, Botic van de Zandschulp, Karen Khachanov, Ben Shelton)
  • Laver Cup: Champion, 1 win (Learner Tien), lost to Alex de Minaur

Roddick on Zverev Handling Agassi’s Roast

Roddick believes Agassi knew his audience well. With two major titles won recently, Zverev was probably more receptive to jokes. Roddick said, "When you feel good and have won two majors in the last 90 days, you're likely to take a joke better. But you could also see Agassi shift from giving tough love to truly appreciating his team's efforts."

Zverev appeared to laugh off Agassi’s comments along with the rest of Team Europe, showing that winning makes those jabs easier to handle.

Zverev’s Upcoming Challenge at the China Open

Shortly after his Laver Cup win, Zverev will compete at the China Open in Beijing. As the top seed, he's favored to win, but his path looks challenging.

  • First Round: Cameron Norrie
  • Second Round: Sebastian Baez or Juncheng Shang
  • Quarter-finals: Potentially Novak Djokovic (seeded 6)
  • Semi-finals: Possibly Alex de Minaur (3) or Felix Auger-Aliassime (2)
  • Final: Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alex de Minaur

The quarter-final match against Novak Djokovic stands out, as Djokovic is aiming to rebound after dropping out of the top 10 following an early US Open exit. Djokovic remains undefeated in Beijing, adding intrigue to their potential clash.

Zverev has never claimed the China Open title despite reaching the semi-finals three times (2017, 2019, 2023). His campaign starts on Wednesday, September 30, facing Norrie on Centre Court.

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