Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul to miss 2025 Laver Cup after picking up injuries at US Open

Team World will feature a different line-up at the upcoming Laver Cup in San Francisco, as members Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul have announced their withdrawal from the annual event.

The Laver Cup, founded by Roger Federer in 2017, pits talented players from Europe against their colleagues from the rest of the world in a three-day battle for supremacy. Team Europe prevailed at last year's edition, defeating their Team World counterparts 13-11 to secure an emotional victory.

The 2025 Laver Cup, scheduled to run from September 19-21, will see several participants from last year's tournament return as both teams again clash horns. However, Team World will be without two keys members, as Americans Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul have withdrawn from the event.

Shelton was having the best season of his career this season, before picking up a shoulder injury during his third round match against Adrian Mannarino. Similarly, Paul lost to Alexander Bublik in the third round after a five-set marathon, and the World No.14 appeared to aggravate a lingering back injury during the encounter as he took a medical timeout during the fourth set.

Team World calls in able replacements

Although the high-ranking Americans will miss the Laver Cup later this month, they shall be replaced by compatriots Alex Michelsen and Reilly Opelka. Michelsen is currently ranked at World No.32,,the rising star will be making his Laver Cup debut.

Opelka appeared in the Laver Cup in 2021, where he went 0-2 in matches played. The towering American will likely be relied upon for his doubles experience, as he teamed with WTA icon Venus Williams in the mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows two weeks ago.

Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, in addition to Argentine Francisco Cerundolo and Brazilian wonderkid Joao Fonseca, round out the Team World roster. Team Europe leads the Laver Cup 5-2, but Team World can make it three wins in four years with a victory in San Francisco this year.