Tennis Australia Press Release, November 10, 2022
The world’s top tennis players are heading to Brisbane, Perth and Sydney for the United Cup this summer.
Sixteen countries were drawn into six groups at the event’s official draw in Sydney today.
Australian tennis greats Todd Woodbridge, Casey Dellacqua and Wally Masur were on hand for the official proceedings ahead of the 29 December to 8 January 2023 event.
Where the countries will play
Stephen Farrow, United Cup Tournament Director: “The United Cup is a historic moment for tennis, a historic moment for our sport. For over 130 years the very best women and men tennis players have travelled the world playing this beautiful game and now they will compete together in 18 international teams for the very first time for equal points, for equal prizemoney in a fantastic global start to the tennis calendar.”
Ross Hutchins, ATP Chief Tour Officer: “The stage is set for an incredible first edition of United Cup. This event is a big statement for our sport, bringing the best of men’s and women’s players together as teammates. Today’s draw highlights the compelling competition, matchups, and storylines our fans can look forward to as we kick off the 2023 season.”
Steve Simon, WTA Chairman & CEO: “Having the world’s best women and men competing alongside one another at the inaugural United Cup provides a unique platform for showcasing our commitment in working together to elevate our sport to new levels. It is a thrilling way to open what is sure to be an exciting 2023 and we look forward to watching our emerging and established stars showcase their talent in this unique format.”
Perth
Top seeds Greece, led by world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas and [6] Maria Sakkari will play at RAC Arena in Perth in Group A. Sixth seed France will also compete in Western Australia in Group F, led by WTA Finals winner and world No.4 Caroline Garcia and Arthur Rinderknech.
Western Australia Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Roger Cook: “Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari are some of the biggest tennis names in the world and we are very excited to have Greece play here in Perth this summer alongside France’s Caroline Garcia and Arthur Rinderknech.“We’re set to serve up some of the world’s best tennis and this tournament will put Perth firmly on the map for tennis fans.“The United Cup gives visitors another great reason to come to Western Australia. They can experience our wonderful natural experiences, premium hospitality offerings and world-class tennis at the same time.“Western Australians love their tennis, so we expect this new tournament will have huge appeal for locals as well as visitors.”
Brisbane
World No.1 Iga Swiatek and [11] Hubert Hurkacz representing No.2 seeded Poland will headline Group B at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane. Italy’s world No.16 Matteo Berrettini and Martina Trevisan feature in Group E.
Brisbane Deputy Mayor Krista Adams: “We are thrilled to be part of bringing international tennis back to Brisbane.
“Blockbuster events like the United Cup bring thousands of visitors to our city and generate millions of dollars for our visitor economy and local businesses.
“When visitors aren’t courtside, Brisbane serves a fantastic line-up of things to see and do. From award-winning restaurants, exciting urban adventures, sensational shopping, world-class galleries and immersive cultural experiences, there is always something to do in our city.”
Sydney
Third seeded United States featuring world No.3 Jessica Pegula, ninth-ranked Taylor Fritz, world No.11 Madison Keys and world No.19 Frances Tiafoe top Group C and will play at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Fourth seeds Spain, fronted by 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal and world No.13 Paula Badosa will lead Group D. Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur will join them in this group.
NSW Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said: “Sydney is ready to welcome international tennis players and fans from all over the world to their sports-loving city to compete in the United Cup.
“We are delivering on our promise to make NSW the major events capital of the Asia Pacific and providing the opportunity to witness the best tennis players right here in Sydney.”
NSW Minister for Sport Alister Henskens: “The United Cup will unite the world’s top tennis players for 11 days of action, with some of the biggest matches to be played in Sydney, confirming NSW as Australia’s premier sporting state.
“The tournament will not only provide an incredible new experience for fans, witnessing emerging stars and established athletes on the court, but also inspire future generations.
“The atmosphere will be electric and is another example of NSW’s undeniable ability to host major international sporting tournaments. I encourage fans to grab their tickets and celebrate the New Year in style.”
The United Cup, an ATP-WTA event presented in partnership with Tennis Australia, offers USD $15 million in prize money and up to 500 Pepperstone ATP and 500 WTA rankings points.
Brisbane, Perth and Sydney will each host two groups of three countries competing in a round-robin format from 29 December to 4 January. Each tie comprises two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match.
The winners of each group will play off, with the city winners advancing to the United Cup Final Four in Sydney to be played from 6 to 8 January. The next best performing team from the group stages will complete the quartet.
The final two remaining countries (one ATP and one combined entry) will be admitted to the competition on Monday 21 November, based on the rankings published on this date.
Tickets to the United Cup will go on sale from 3.00pm AEDT Friday 11 November via UnitedCup.com/tickets.
