After two successful editions of the United Cup, Perth and Sydney will host the tournament to officially commence the 2025 tennis season.
Reigning champions Germany are preparing to defend their crown, while inaugural winners, USA, are expected to cause problems for the rest of the field with their talent and depth.
For Australian fans, all eyes will be placed on the green and gold in a bid to win silverware for the first time since the 2016 Hopman Cup.
The tournament is set to introduce timeouts in mixed doubles matches in a tennis-first, offering 60-second timeouts which players or captains can call.
A total of 18 nations enter the event split into six groups of three, with the group winners advancing to the quarter-finals along with the two best-placed runners-up.
The First Serve previews each group in detail.
GROUP F:
Australia
Seed: No.12
No.1 ATP Player: Alex de Minaur (No.9)
No.2 ATP Player: Omar Jasika (No.178)
No.1 WTA Player: Olivia Gadecki (No.97)
No.2 WTA Player: Destanee Aiava (No.194)
ATP Doubles: Matthew Ebden (No.13)
WTA Doubles: Ellen Perez (No.13)
Team Captain: Lleyton Hewitt
Best Result: Semi-finals (2024)
Great Britain
Seed: No.6
No.1 ATP Player: Billy Harris (No.125)
No.2 ATP Player: Jan Choinski (No.173)
No.1 WTA Player: Katie Boulter (No.24)
No.2 WTA Player: Lily Miyazaki (No.182)
ATP Doubles: Charles Broom (No.156)
WTA Doubles: Olivia Nicholls (No.39)
Team Captain: Alexander Ward
Best Result: Knockout Finals (2023)
Argentina
Seed: No.17
No.1 ATP Player: Tomás Martín Etcheverry (No.39)
No.2 ATP Player: Thiago Agustín Tirante (No.117)
No.1 WTA Player: Nadia Podoroska (No.100)
No.2 WTA Player: María Lourdes Carlé (No.94)
ATP Doubles: Guido Andreozzi (No.55)
WTA Doubles: N/A
Team Captain: Horacio de la Peña
Best Result: 3rd in the group stage (2023)
In recent years, Australia has fallen agonisingly short in team events. From back-to-back heartbreak in the final of the Davis Cup in 2022 and 2023 to Billie Jean King Cup final losses in 2019 and 2022 — it's been a painful ride.
Although it does not possess the same prestige as those events, the upcoming United Cup is a chance for the Aussies to taste success.
Coming off a career-best year, world No.9 Alex de Minaur will hope he replicates the form from last season’s United Cup, where he defeated Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.
Australia’s No.2 male position is Omar Jasika, a player who deserves the opportunity after claiming five consecutive ITF titles in the space of 43 days towards the back end of 2024.
Olivia Gadecki’s rise to a career-high No.83 no doubt raises her confidence and belief, but the doubles pairing of Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez could prove crucial for potential tiebreakers.
Although Great Britain and Argentina have Katie Boulter (No.25) and Tomás Martín Etcheverry (No.39) respectively, their depth is a cause for concern with the likes of Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans and Diego Schwartzman (retiring in February) are not in the fold.
SCHEDULE:
Australia v Argentina — Saturday, December 28 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Great Britain v Argentina — Monday, December 30 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Great Britain v Australia — Wednesday, January 1 2025 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
GROUP A:
USA
Seed: No.1
No.1 ATP Player: Taylor Fritz (No.4)
No.2 ATP Player: Denis Kudla (No.267)
No.1 WTA Player: Coco Gauff (No.3)
No.2 WTA Player: Danielle Collins (No.11)
ATP Doubles: Robert Galloway (No.34)
WTA Doubles: Desirae Krawczyk (No.11)
Team Captain: Michael Russell
Best Result: Champion (2023)
Canada
Seed: No.7
No.1 ATP Player: Félix Auger-Aliassime (No.29)
No.2 ATP Player: Liam Draxl (No.247)
No.1 WTA Player: Leylah Fernandez (No.31)
No.2 WTA Player: Stacey Fung (No.253)
ATP Doubles: Benjamin Sigouin (No.201)
WTA Doubles: Ariana Arseneault (No.146)
Team Captain: Félix Auger-Aliassime
Best Result: 3rd in the group stage (2024)
Croatia
Seed: No.18
No.1 ATP Player: Borna Ćorić (No.90)
No.2 ATP Player: Luka Mikrut (No.380)
No.1 WTA Player: Donna Vekić (No.19)
No.2 WTA Player: Lucija Ćirić Bagarić (No.215)
ATP Doubles: Ivan Dodig (No.26)
WTA Doubles: Petra Marčinko (No.615)
Team Captain: Iva Majoli
Best Result: Knockout Finals (2023)
As far as depth goes, the USA is stacked with an array of talent and weapons that most countries can only dream about.
After reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at last year’s US Open, Taylor Fritz has discovered a sense of maturity in his game when the big moments arise to take his game to the next level.
Meanwhile, 2023 US Open champion, Coco Gauff, and former Australian Open finalist, Danielle Collins, also have the experience required, while America’s potential doubles duo can be a huge difference maker.
Canada has opted to select two players in and around the top-250, adding pressure for Félix Auger-Aliassime and former US Open runner-up, Leylah Fernandez.
For the Croats, a lot will depend on whether Donna Vekić can continue her rich vein of form, claiming silver at the Paris Olympics and reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals, because given Borna Ćorić’s recent injury misfortune, nothing is guaranteed.
SCHEDULE:
Canada v Croatia — Saturday, December 28 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
USA v Canada — Sunday, December 29 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
USA v Croatia — Tuesday, December 31 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
GROUP B:
Poland
Seed: No.2
No.1 ATP Player: Hubert Hurkacz (No.16)
No.2 ATP Player: Kamil Majchrzak (No.120)
No.1 WTA Player: Iga Świątek (No.2)
No.2 WTA Player: Maja Chwalińska (No.128)
ATP Doubles: Jan Zieliński (No.25)
WTA Doubles: Alicja Rosolska (No.417)
Team Captain: Mateusz Terczynski
Best Result: Runner-up (2024)
Czechia
Seed: No.8
No.1 ATP Player: Tomáš Macháč (No.25)
No.2 ATP Player: Marek Gengel (No.257)
No.1 WTA Player: Karolína Muchová (No.22)
No.2 WTA Player: Gabriela Knutson (No.233)
ATP Doubles: Patrik Rikl (No.75)
WTA Doubles: Vendula Valdmannová (No.1435)
Team Captain: Daniel Vacek
Best Result: 2nd in the group stage (2023)
Norway
Seed: No.15
No.1 ATP Player: Casper Ruud (No.6)
No.2 ATP Player: Viktor Durasovic (No.418)
No.1 WTA Player: Malene Helgø (No.404)
No.2 WTA Player: Ulrikke Eikeri (No.1031)
ATP Doubles: N/A
WTA Doubles: N/A
Team Captain: Christian Ruud
Best Result: Quarter-Finals (2024)
Firstly, it’s important to address the elephant in the room — Iga Świątek’s controversial doping ban.
The five-time Grand Slam winner admitted to experiencing “sleepless nights” after she was found to have tested positive for a banned substance, copping a one-month suspension.
We are still yet to discover how that news will impact Świątek on the court, but the 23-year-old could rely on support from Kamil Majchrzak who suffered a 13-month ban due to testing positive for a banned substance four times.
Inconsistency may cost the Czechs without some of their star firepower available, while Norway will be heavily reliant on three-time major finalist, Casper Ruud.
But these tournaments have always been a valuable platform for the likes of Victor Durasovic, Malene Helgø and Ulrikke Eikeri to make a name for themselves.
SCHEDULE:
Czechia v Norway — Sunday, December 29 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Poland v Norway — Monday, December 30 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Poland v Czechia — Wednesday, January 1 2025 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
GROUP C:
Greece
Seed: No.3
No.1 ATP Player: Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.11)
No.2 ATP Player: Stefanos Sakellaridis (No.489)
No.1 WTA Player: Maria Sakkari (No.32)
No.2 WTA Player: Despina Papamichail (No.281)
ATP Doubles: Petros Tsitsipas (No.105)
WTA Doubles: Valentini Grammatikopoulou (No.167)
Team Captain: Theodoros Angelinos
Best Result: Semi-Finals (2023)
Kazakhstan
Seed: No.9
No.1 ATP Player: Alexander Shevchenko (No.78)
No.2 ATP Player: Dmitry Popko (No.176)
No.1 WTA Player: Elena Rybakina (No.6)
No.2 WTA Player: Zhibek Kulambayeva (No.314)
ATP Doubles: Aleksandr Nedovyesov (No.59)
WTA Doubles: N/A
Team Captain: Aleksandr Nedovyesov
Best Result: 3rd in the group stage (2023)
Spain
Seed: No.14
No.1 ATP Player: Pablo Carreño Busta (No.196)
No.2 ATP Player: Carlos Taberner (No.195)
No.1 WTA Player: Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro (No.54)
No.2 WTA Player: Marina Bassols Ribera (No.213)
ATP Doubles: Sergio Martos Gornés (No.113)
WTA Doubles: Yvonne Cavallé Reimers (No.89)
Team Captain: José Antonio Sánchez de Luna
Best Result: 2nd in the group stage (2024)
Greece are always in contention for these types of team events with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. However, the pair were let down by arguably one of their worst individual seasons, picking up one title between them this year.
The United Cup is the first real test for Sakkari since retiring during her first-round clash at the US Open due to a shoulder injury.
For former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, the same rings true after hitting injury and health stumbling blocks in 2024 — at the wrong end of two retirements and one walkover.
Although it’s a great sight to see former world No.10 Pablo Carreño Busta return to full fitness, it’s difficult to make a case for Spain.
SCHEDULE:
Kazakhstan v Spain — Friday, December 27 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
Greece v Spain — Saturday, December 28 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
Greece v Kazakhstan — Monday, December 30 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
GROUP D:
Italy
Seed: No.4
No.1 ATP Player: Flavio Cobolli (No.32)
No.2 ATP Player: Matteo Gigante (No.141)
No.1 WTA Player: Jasmine Paolini (No.4)
No.2 WTA Player: Sara Errani (No.105)
ATP Doubles: Andrea Vavassori (No.10)
WTA Doubles: Angelica Moratelli (No.74)
Team Captain: Renzo Furlan
Best Result: Runner-up (2023)
France
Seed: No.10
No.1 ATP Player: Ugo Humbert (No.14)
No.2 ATP Player: Corentin Moutet (No.70)
No.1 WTA Player: Chloé Paquet (No.123)
No.2 WTA Player: Leolia Jeanjean (No.149)
ATP Doubles: Édouard Roger-Vasselin (No.40)
WTA Doubles: Elixane Lechemia (No.105)
Team Captain: Fabrice Martin
Best Result: Semi-Finals (2024)
Switzerland
Seed: No.16
No.1 ATP Player: Dominic Stricker (No.300)
No.2 ATP Player: Rémy Bertola (No.282)
No.1 WTA Player: Belinda Bencic (No.487)
No.2 WTA Player: Céline Naef (No.153)
ATP Doubles: Jakub Paul (No.138)
WTA Doubles: Conny Perrin (No.157)
Team Captain: Sandra Naef
Best Result: 2nd in the group stage (2023)
Inaugural runners-up Italy are once again a major threat in this competition, especially after the explosive year of two-time major finalist, Jasmine Paolini.
What’s most impressive is that despite the likes of Jannik Sinner, Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti missing, 22-year-old Flavio Cobolli is another bright prospect on the men’s side.
Don’t dismiss the French though, with Ugo Humbert playing himself back into form after an impressive run to the final at the Paris Masters.
The Swiss welcome back former world No.4 Belinda Bencic after recently returning from giving birth.
SCHEDULE:
France v Switzerland — Saturday, December 28 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Italy v Switzerland — Sunday, December 29 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
Italy v France — Tuesday, December 31 2024 at Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
GROUP E:
China
Seed: No.5
No.1 ATP Player: Zhang Zhizhen (No.45)
No.2 ATP Player: Bai Yan (No.255)
No.1 WTA Player: Gao Xinyu (No.175)
No.2 WTA Player: Zhang Shuai (No.206)
ATP Doubles: Sun Fajing (No.207)
WTA Doubles: N/A
Team Captain: Wu Di
Best Result: Quarter-Finals (2024)
Germany
Seed: No.11
No.1 ATP Player: Alexander Zverev (No.2)
No.2 ATP Player: Daniel Masur (No.254)
No.1 WTA Player: Laura Siegemund (No.80)
No.2 WTA Player: Lena Papadakis (No.541)
ATP Doubles: Tim Pütz (No.9)
WTA Doubles: Vivian Heisen (No.1641)
Team Captain: Alexander Zverev Sr.
Best Result: Champion (2024)
Brazil
Seed: No.13
No.1 ATP Player: Thiago Monteiro (No.109)
No.2 ATP Player: Gustavo Heide (No.172)
No.1 WTA Player: Beatriz Haddad Maia (No.17)
No.2 WTA Player: Carolina Alves (No.301)
ATP Doubles: Rafael Matos (No.36)
WTA Doubles: Luisa Stefani (No.28)
Team Captain: Rafael Paciaroni
Best Result: 2nd in the group stage (2023)
On paper, Germany should fancy their chances to progress top of the standings, spearheaded by world No.2 Alexander Zverev.
The reigning champions won’t have veteran Angelique Kerber to rely upon anymore, but another experienced player, Laura Siegemund, will be a valuable addition.
China suffered a major blow last week when Australian Open finalist Qinwen Zheng announced her withdrawal from the event, severely impacting their depth.
As for Brazil, Thiago Monteiro is no pushover (even when it’s not on clay), but Beatriz Haddad Maia will have to be firing on all cylinders if the South Americans have a chance to at least force a mixed doubles decider, containing two players inside the top-36.
SCHEDULE
China v Brazil — Friday, December 27 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
Germany v Brazil — Sunday, December 29 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
China v Germany — Monday, December 30 2024 at RAC Arena, Perth
The tournament runs from Friday, December 27 2024 to Sunday, January 5 2025.
Click here to watch every match of the United Cup live on Stan Sport.
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