Sydney’s Courts Buzz with United Cup Anticipation

The hard courts at Sydney Olympic Park thrum with the sharp cracks of practice rallies, a prelude to the United Cup‘s intensity. Action doesn’t start until 3 January in Sydney—two days earlier in Perth—but the world’s elite are already deep in sessions, their strokes carving out strategies for the mixed-teams clash. This event, blending nations in high-stakes ties, launches the 2026 season with every point loaded by history and hunger.

De Minaur ignites home fire

Alex de Minaur zipped baseline to baseline Tuesday, exchanging crosscourt drives with fellow Sydneysider Aleksandar Vukic, as Team Australia’s captain Lleyton Hewitt leaned in from the sidelines. De Minaur’s track record here runs deep; he’s toppled Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in past editions, feats that stoke his fire for the home crowd. Those inside-out forehands he fired in practice signal a player primed to disrupt with speed, turning the medium-fast surface into an ally for his 1–2 patterns.

The local roar will amplify that edge, but it also sharpens the stakes—Hewitt‘s gaze a reminder of the mental grit needed in team battles. De Minaur eyes another breakthrough, his flat backhands slicing down-the-line to counter power, setting an aggressive tone from the opener.

Zverev chases repeat glory

Across the courts, Alexander Zverev powers through his warm-up, the two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion carrying Germany’s 2024 United Cup title like fuel for the road ahead. Beaten by De Minaur here once, Zverev’s heavy topspin forehands thud with purpose, honing the precision for Sunday’s tie against the Netherlands. On these hard courts, where low bounces reward flat pace, his inside-in winners could reclaim dominance early.

That victory last year lifted a nation, but repeating it demands composure amid team pressures—each practice a step toward sustaining form through the grueling format. Zverev’s serve stretches wide, probing weaknesses, as he builds toward a season where Grand Slam hunts hinge on this launch.

Canada and Norway build momentum

For Canada, Felix Auger-Aliassime arrives sharp at a career-high No. 5, fresh from his second Nitto ATP Finals in 2025, teaming with debutante Victoria Mboko to spark their campaign. Auger-Aliassime’s late-season surge featured one–two combinations that blended kick serves with crosscourt backhands, tactics suited to Sydney’s speed. Their sessions buzz with energy, Mboko’s fresh legs adding unpredictability to the mix.

Casper Ruud anchors Norway’s effort since the event’s start, his deep crosscourt rallies a staple on this surface that grips topspin for control. At 27, he faces Jakub Mensik of Czechia on Monday, where slice backhands could disrupt the youngster’s power and preserve Ruud’s stamina for deeper runs.

Hurkacz and Joint eye breakthroughs

Hubert Hurkacz eases back after a knee injury sidelined him since June, partnering Iga Swiatek for Poland following two straight runner-up finishes. The former World No. 6’s towering serve sets up inside-out forehands, fluid in early hits that test his recovery on the hard courts’ unforgiving bounce. Poland’s title path rests on translating that rust-free form into team wins, each volley a bid to rebuild confidence.

Australia’s Maya Joint, the top WTA hope, sparred with Mboko Tuesday, her aggressive net rushes probing defenses inside Ken Rosewall Arena. She opens against Norway’s Malene Helgo on Saturday, where flat groundstrokes could thrive in the intimate atmosphere, carrying home expectations with every down-the-line pass. As these threads converge, the United Cup shapes up as a forge for 2026 narratives, where practice grit promises on-court fireworks.