United Cup Press Release, November 4, 2024
Croatia and Argentina have qualified for the United Cup in 2025 and round out the top 18 countries set to compete across Perth and Sydney from 27 December to 5 January.
Croatia will be led by Paris Olympic Games singles silver medallist and Wimbledon semifinalist Donna Vekic and former world No.12 Borna Coric for the third consecutive year.
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion Ivan Dodig will also star as part of the Croatian side.
“It’s honestly my favourite tournament of the year,” Vekic said.
“We have great energy in the team. Borna has been my friend for more than 20 years. It feels like a little family. We are not a team, we are a family.
“To be pushing each other and supporting each other especially at the beginning of the year, it’s special.”
Team Croatia fall into Group A in Perth to set up some thrilling matches against top seeds Team USA and Canada during the group stage.
They play Team Canada in their opening tie from 10.00am Saturday 28 December at RAC Arena.
Twenty-eight-year-old Vekic will face Leylah Fernandez and Coco Gauff in her singles matches.
“It’s going to be two really tough matches to start the year. But that’s what we want, I think it’s great preparation for the Australian Open. I think I’ll have to train extra harder in the off season, which is great motivation as well.”
Argentina, led by current world No.40 Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Nadia Podoroska, complete Group F.
This is Argentina’s second appearance at the United Cup. Podoroska – a Roland Garros semifinalist in 2020 – and Etcheverry return to represent their country after doing so at the inaugural event in 2023.
They face host country Australia on the opening night of play in Sydney from 5.30pm on Saturday 28 December at Ken Rosewall Arena followed by Great Britain two days later.
FINAL TWO QUALIFIED COUNTRIES AND PLAYERS
ATP 31 121 29* |
ARGENTINA Tomas Martin Etcheverry Thiago Agustin Tirante Maximo Gonzalez
|
WTA 74 88 113 |
Nadia Podoroska Maria Lourdes Carle Julia Riera |
96 399 28*
|
CROATIA Borna Coric Luka Mikrut Ivan Dodig |
18 201 290
|
Donna Vekic Lucija Ciric Bagaric Petra Marcinko |
*= Doubles ranking. Rankings as of 14 October
Each tie at the United Cup will comprise one men’s singles and one women’s singles match followed by one mixed doubles match.
Singles matches are best-of-three tiebreak sets. Mixed doubles matches are two tiebreak sets with a deciding match tiebreak (10 points) at one set-all.
Group winners in each city advance to the quarterfinals with one quarterfinal spot in each city awarded to the best runner up in that city.
Winners will progress to the semifinals and final to be played in Sydney.
Adult prices start from $40 and from $20 for children 3–12 years of age. Family passes (two adults and two children) start from $100.
For more ticket information please visit UnitedCup.com/tickets.