The United States, led by top seeds Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, are set to compete in the United Cup in Australia against teams from around the world. The tournament will kick off in Perth on December 27 and will feature teams from various countries, including Canada, Germany, Greece, and China. Defending champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, will face tough competition from Brazil and China. Notably, world number two Carlos Alcaraz will be absent from the Spanish team, leaving fans curious about his whereabouts ahead of the Australian Open.
Poland, represented by Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, will aim to avenge their loss in the 2024 final as they compete against teams from the Czech Republic and Norway in Sydney. Meanwhile, world number one Jannik Sinner has chosen not to play for Italy, who will face France and Switzerland in the group stage. In the other Sydney group, Britain will take on Australia, captained by Alex de Minaur. Tournament director Stephen Farrow expressed excitement for the event, highlighting its importance in helping players acclimate to Australian conditions.
The United Cup features some of the world’s top players, with seven of the top 10 women and six of the top 12 men signed up to compete. Each team consists of three men and three women, competing in a round-robin format with matches comprising men’s and women’s singles, as well as mixed doubles. The group winners in each city will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the best runner-up, with the semi-finals and final taking place in Sydney. With a prize pool of US$10 million and ATP and WTA ranking points up for grabs, the competition is expected to be fierce and exciting for tennis fans around the world.
In Perth, the USA will face off against Canada in Group A, while Group C will see Greece competing against Kazakhstan and Spain. Group F will feature China, Germany, and Brazil battling it out for a spot in the next round. In Sydney, Poland will go up against the Czech Republic and Norway in Group B, while Italy, France, and Switzerland will compete in Group D. Britain will take on Australia in Group F, with the final spot yet to be filled. The draw sets the stage for an intense and competitive tournament as teams from various countries vie for the United Cup title in Australia.