The world’s best tennis players are set for some thrilling match ups at the third edition of the United Cup, the innovative mixed teams event in Perth and Sydney from Friday, 27 December to Sunday, 5 January 2025.
Staged against a picturesque Sydney Harbour backdrop, 18 countries were drawn into six groups of three teams at the official draw on Monday.
Todd Woodbridge, Casey Dellacqua and Lleyton Hewitt assisted with the official proceedings, while John Fitzgerald and Alicia Molik attended the United Cup draw event at The Ritz-Carlton at Elizabeth Quay in Perth.
Perth
Top seeds Team USA, led by 2023 US Open champion and world No.3 Coco Gauff and world No.6 and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz will headline Group A at RAC Arena in Perth, alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez’s Team Canada and a third team to be confirmed in November.
Third seeds Team Greece, led by popular duo Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, both former world No.3s, have been drawn into Group C. Kazakhstan featuring world No.5 Elena Rybakina and Team Spain also feature.
Team China’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games singles gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and Zhang Zhizhen headline Group E alongside defending United Cup champions Germany, led by world No.3 Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund, and Brazil’s world No.10 Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Sydney
Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz’s Team Poland top Group B in Sydney. They will face Czechia’s Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac and Casper Ruud’s Team Norway.
Group D will feature this year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini and Flavio Cobolli of Team Italy and France’s Ugo Humbert and Diane Parry. Team Switzerland complete the group with Belinda Bencic, who returns to professional tennis after giving birth to her daughter Bella in April, alongside Dominic Stricker.
Team Australia, led by Alex de Minaur and Olivia Gadecki, return to Sydney as part of Group F. They will face No.6 seeds Great Britain, featuring debutant Jack Draper and Katie Boulter. A third team, to also be confirmed in November, completes the group.
Lleyton Hewitt said, “To play in Sydney is pretty exciting for Alex, he loves playing on Ken Rosewall Arena, we know how well he plays out there, so it’s a good opportunity.”
“Alex always plays well on Ken Rosewall Arena, he gets the home crowd advantage out there as well. Hopefully he can push deep … get as many matches as possible through the United Cup and give himself the best preparation for the Australian Open,” Hewitt added.
United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow said the draw for 2025 will see some of the biggest names in world tennis play the United Cup across Perth and Sydney.
“Everyone who plays this event absolutely loves the experience,” Farrow said.
“It’s the perfect way to acclimatise to the Australian conditions. They enjoy being here and you can also see from the intensity on court how much it matters to them to win it as well.”
Western Australia Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Hon. Rita Saffioti said she was pleased to once-again be hosting the prestigious tennis event.
“With the United Cup returning for its third year, we’re thrilled to see it once again attracting visitors from across Australia, while giving our local community the chance to witness their favourite international players battle it out right here at RAC Arena,” Saffioti said.
“Events like the United Cup reinforce Western Australia’s status as a premier destination for major sporting and cultural experiences, shining a spotlight on our beautiful state for the world to see.”
NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said he was delighted to kick start the summer with the exciting United Cup.
“This tournament has become a staple on the NSW sporting calendar, providing fans with a fantastic opportunity to watch established and emerging stars, inspiring the next generation of tennis players,” Kamper said.
“The excitement and atmosphere of the United Cup again confirms Sydney’s undeniable spot as the premier sporting destination of the Asia Pacific and I am once again looking forward to thrilling competition.”
The tournament schedule will be released on Tuesday, 22 October with tickets to the United Cup group stage on sale from 5.00pm local time in each host city.
