Sport
Here’s what you need to know about the United Cup
The world’s best tennis players are set to deliver blockbuster match-ups at the fourth edition of the United Cup, the innovative mixed-teams event returning to Sydney in January!
Bringing 18 countries together, the United Cup blends elite men’s and women’s tennis in a unique team-based format. Each nation fields up to three male and three female players, guided by a team captain, with ties decided across men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles. After a round-robin group stage, the top teams advance to the finals, where national pride and bragging rights are on the line.
The 2026 edition boasts serious star power, featuring five of the world’s top 10 men and four of the world’s top 10 women, including Alex de Minaur, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Iga Świątek, Alexander Zverev, Jasmine Paolini, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper. Fans can also look forward to appearances from Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Belinda Bencic, Stan Wawrinka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari and more.
Group B Preview
Teams: Canada, Belgium, China
Group B in Sydney looms as a tightly contested battle, with Canada entering as favourites behind the firepower of Felix Auger-Aliassime and rising star Victoria Mboko but facing strong challenges from both Belgium and China. Belgium boasts excellent depth and doubles strength, led by Zizou Bergs and anchored by the experience and versatility of Elise Mertens. At the same time, China arrives with a balanced line-up headlined by Zhizhen Zhang and Zhu Lin, capable of causing upsets across singles and mixed doubles. With all three nations well-equipped across disciplines, Group B shapes as one of the most unpredictable and entertaining groups of the United Cup.
Group D Preview
Teams: Australia, Norway, Czechia
Group D sets the stage for a high-quality showdown, with home favourites Australia aiming to capitalise on home-court advantage behind world No.7 Alex de Minaur and the nation’s top-ranked woman Maya Joint, supported by experienced campaigners Jason Kubler, Maddison Inglis, Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith. Czechia arrive with a dangerous mix of youth and pedigree, led by rising star Jakub Menšík and anchored by Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejčíková, alongside Linda Fruhvirtová, giving them strength across both singles and doubles. Norway, spearheaded by world No.12 Casper Ruud, bring proven top-level firepower on the men’s side, with Ulrikke Eikeri adding valuable doubles experience, making Group D a tightly fought contest where depth and versatility could prove decisive.
Group F Preview
Teams: Germany, Poland, Netherlands
Group F promises a thrilling European clash, with Poland led by world No.2 Iga Świątek and Hubert Hurkacz, supported by Daniel Michalski, Jan Zieliński, Katarzyna Kawa and Katarzyna Piter, combining top-tier singles firepower with strong doubles options. Germany field a powerful line-up featuring world No.3 Alexander Zverev, experienced doubles specialist Kevin Krawietz and rising talent Eva Lys, alongside Laura Siegemund, Patrick Zahraj and Mina Hodzic, making them a formidable contender across all rubbers. The Netherlands bring depth and tactical versatility with Tallon Griekspoor, doubles expert David Pel, and a strong women’s team including Suzan Lamens, Eva Vedder and Demi Schuurs, setting up Group F as a highly competitive and unpredictable battleground in Sydney.
Finals
After the round-robin stage, the United Cup moves into a knockout finals format, starting with the quarterfinals, where group winners and the strongest runners-up face off. The winners advance to the semifinals on 10 January, setting up high-stakes clashes across men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles. The two semifinal winners then meet in the final on 11 January, where the overall champion is crowned. This structure rewards depth and versatility, as every match counts, ensuring an exciting and unpredictable conclusion to the tournament.
Don’t miss a moment of the action – grab your tickets for all Sydney matches now at Ticketmaster.com.au.
