United Cup 2026 draw sparks national rivalries
The latest groupings for the mixed-team event in Perth and Sydney line up powerhouse nations early, where individual stars must blend precision and patriotism to navigate the season's opening pressures.
The fourth edition of the United Cup launches the 2026 tennis calendar in Perth and Sydney from January 2 to 11, assembling eighteen nations into six groups of three for intense mixed-team competition. On fast indoor hard courts, players will confront early-season adjustments, where booming serves and sharp returns set the tone amid the weight of national pride. Defending champions and top seeds alike prepare for matchups that demand tactical shifts, from aggressive inside-out forehands to defensive underspin lobs, all under the gaze of fervent crowds building toward the Australian Open swing.
Icons of the game, Wally Masur and Jelena Dokic, guided the draw proceedings at RAC Arena in Perth, with Casey Dellacqua and Matt Ebden joining to unveil the groups that promise blockbuster clashes. These initial ties will test mental resilience as teams integrate singles and doubles strategies, forging momentum that could define rankings trajectories. The atmosphere in both cities amplifies the stakes, turning every point into a collective narrative of triumph or adaptation.
“We’re extremely proud of this competition for what it represents and celebrates, the fact that our great sport of tennis is played by so many amazing athletes on both the female and male side of the sport,” United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow said. “To bring those athletes together to play for not just big ranking points and prize money but for their country and national pride is what makes this competition so special. “It’s an intense and exciting atmosphere with loads of fans coming to watch. Some of the top players in the world, truly engaged and wanting to win out there on court in Perth and Sydney. We have a huge amount to look forward to in January.”
Defenders confront early challenges
In Perth's Group A, defending champions Team USA headline as top seeds, led by world No. 3 Coco Gauff and world No. 6 Taylor Fritz, facing Spain and Argentina. Fritz's powerful serve, often transitioning into inside-out forehands that stretch opponents across the baseline, will probe Spanish tactical depth on the quicker surface, while Gauff's retrieval skills counter Argentina's probing aggression. The title defense carries psychological weight, as any early slip could echo through a majors-laden year, pushing the pair to harness Perth's supportive energy for focused execution.
Group C pits third seeds Team Italy, steered by world No. 8 and 2024 Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini alongside rising star Flavio Cobolli, against Team France and Team Switzerland featuring Stan Wawrinka and world No. 11 Belinda Bencic. Paolini's quick footwork turns crosscourt exchanges into one–two combinations that punish errors, clashing with Wawrinka's slice backhands designed to disrupt rhythm on the indoor hard. For Italy, Cobolli's composure in these high-profile debuts builds essential mental toughness against France's flair and Switzerland's seasoned play, all while the summer heat intensifies the push beyond last year's semifinal finish.
Rising stars ignite group tensions
Team Great Britain tops Group E with world No. 10 Jack Draper and 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, matched against Team Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari plus debutants Team Japan led by four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and 2019 Junior Wimbledon champion Shintaro Mochizuki. Draper's left-handed serve curves into down-the-line backhands that challenge Tsitsipas's returns, while Raducanu's versatile all-court game meets Osaka's deep groundstrokes pinning rivals back. Britain's fresh lineup hinges on Raducanu regaining her poise after setbacks, easing the spotlight on Draper's ascent as Japan's newcomers add unpredictable energy to the mix.
Sydney's Group B features No. 2 seeds world No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime and teenage talent Victoria Mboko against Team Belgium and Team China. Auger-Aliassime's smooth inside-in forehands blend speed and accuracy, requiring sharp focus against Belgium's counterpunching style, as Mboko's budding baseline steadiness tests China's depth. Canada must assert early dominance to build seeding momentum, adapting return depths to handle flat serves in a group that demands quick surface acclimation.
Hosts and champions seek redemption
Group D transforms Sydney into Australia's battleground, with the hosts led by world No. 7 Alex de Minaur and world No. 32 Maya Joint, completed by Team Czechia and Casper Ruud's Team Norway. De Minaur's tireless speed redirects crosscourt winners from underspin lobs, fueling home support against Ruud's topspin-heavy forehands that grip the hard court. Joint, stepping up as the top Australian woman, carries the emotional load of leading on home soil, her consistent returns vital against Czechia's doubles strength amid the electric roar at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Group F delivers a marquee showdown with 2024 champions Team Germany, powered by world No. 3 Alexander Zverev and debutant Eva Lys, facing Poland's world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz plus Team Netherlands. Zverev's explosive serves feed into inside-out patterns that revive rivalries with Hurkacz's flat power, while Swiatek's precise forehand loops pressure Lys's early exposure. Germany's repeat bid tests Zverev's ability to channel crowd intensity without faltering, as Poland eyes seasonal supremacy in a group ripe for tactical chess on Sydney's responsive decks.
Western Australian Tourism Minister the Hon. Reece Whitby MLA expressed delight at hosting USA and Italy, underscoring how these matches elevate Perth's event profile and drive economic growth through summer tourism. He views the United Cup as key to Western Australia's strategy for attracting visitors and supporting local businesses. NSW Minister for Sport and Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper highlighted Sydney's role in the tournament's climactic stages, noting the unique vibe at Ken Rosewall Arena where global fans create an unmatched spectacle.
The tournament schedule emerges tomorrow, November 18, with group-stage tickets available from 12:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, November 19, in Perth and Sydney—adults from $40, children ages 3–12 from $20. As nations scout these venues, the focus sharpens on doubles pairings that could tip ties, blending power serves with precise volleys to craft early narratives of resilience and flair under the Australian sun.
