The world’s best players will unite in January to compete side by side at the United Cup, a stunning new annual team event that will launch the global tennis season in 2023.
In a world first, showcasing equality at the highest level of the sport, mixed teams from 18 countries will compete across three Australian cities – Brisbane, Perth and Sydney – over 11 days. Each team will comprise up to four men and up to four women.
The power and passion of team competition will come to life as the players unite to represent their countries with national pride on the line.
The United Cup, an ATP-WTA event presented in partnership with Tennis Australia, offers an unprecedented USD $15 million in prize money. In another world first for a mixed team event, 500 ATP and 500 WTA rankings points are also up for grabs.
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.
The winners of each group will play off, and the city winners advance to the United Cup Final Four in Sydney, played from 6 to 8 January. The next best performing team from the group stages will complete the quartet.
Format and qualification
- The United Cup will take place from Thursday 29 December to Sunday 8 January 2023
- The first 12 countries will qualify for the United Cup via the six highest-ranked men and six highest-ranked women entered, based on their Pepperstone ATP and Hologic WTA Tour rankings
- The remaining six teams will qualify according to the best combined ranking of the highest-ranked men’s and women’s players from the same country
- Australia is guaranteed entry, either directly via ranking or as a wildcard
- Brisbane (Pat Rafter Arena), Perth (RAC Arena) and Sydney (Ken Rosewall Arena) will host the group stage from Thursday 29 December to Wednesday 4 January 2023
- Each city will host two groups of three countries, competing in a round-robin format
- Each tie will comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match
- Group winners in each city will play off for one of three semifinal spots
- Three City Champions will advance to the United Cup Final Four in Sydney, played at Ken Rosewall Arena from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 January, with the next best performing team from the group stages
- The United Cup draw will be held on Thursday 10 November AEDT and determine where the top 16 countries will play. The last two teams will be determined week commencing 21 November
- Tickets for the United Cup go on sale on Friday 11 November.
Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia CEO: “The United Cup presents a unique opportunity to unite both the men’s and women’s tour in a brand new way that has never been seen before. We have the opportunity here in Australia to leverage tennis’ unique position to allow the world’s top men and women to compete side by side and represent their country at the highest level. We couldn’t be more delighted to see how this event unfolds in January across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.”
Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman: “The United Cup marks a major step forward for the game of tennis. Most importantly, it will create incredible new experiences for our fans. We’re excited to see the best men’s and women’s players competing together, with ranking points on the line, to launch the season like never before.”
Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO: “The United Cup is an important and strategic collaboration between the WTA, the ATP and Tennis Australia that reflects a continued commitment in elevating our sport. This exciting singles and mixed doubles team event will bring together emerging stars and established athletes from both Tours to compete on the same stage, giving players and fans a unique experience in which the final outcome may be determined with women and men competing together.”
Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister: “It’s terrific to see the stars of the game returning to Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena for Queensland’s traditional summer of international tennis. Blockbuster tennis events always bring thousands of Queensland and interstate fans to Brisbane who generate millions of dollars for our visitor economy. The United Cup is part of Queensland’s first-class line up of major international sport on our green and gold runway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Adrian Schrinner, Brisbane Lord Mayor: “I’m thrilled to welcome international tennis back to Brisbane, taking its place in the city’s jam-packed summer sports calendar. Local sports fans and visitors to the city will be amongst the first in the world to experience this new format, cheering on homegrown and international stars on the court, while the event injects millions into our local economy and businesses off the court.”
Roger Cook, Western Australia Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism: “The WA Government is delighted to support this fantastic event, which will bring both men’s and women’s elite tennis players to Perth. Events such as the United Cup provide a great opportunity to promote Western Australia to an international audience through the live broadcast, attract out-of-state visitors and showcase our world-class facilities. We look forward to hosting the first matches of the tournament in WA and welcoming players, supporters and their fans.”
Ben Franklin, New South Wales Minister for Tourism: “As the Australian summer of tennis launches, Sydney is the place to be as we host this incredible new tournament, including the finals. We look forward to showcasing the action from the top men’s and women’s tennis players at the Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. The United Cup will attract world-class athletes and bring passionate sports fans from interstate and around the world to NSW. Events like this provide a massive boost to the NSW economy and provide support to our hotels, restaurants, bars, retailers and tourism operators.”
Alister Henskens, NSW Minister for Sport: “NSW is Australia’s premier sporting state and it’s fitting that Sydney host the group stage and finals of this exciting new tournament. The United Cup will bring the world’s top tennis talent together for 11 days of action. It’s another feather in the cap for NSW, which has already hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 and 2022 UCI Road World Championships in recent months, with the FIFA Women’s World Cup to come in 2023.”
Australia will also host a combined WTA 500 and ATP 250 event during the first week of 2023. The Adelaide International, a WTA 500 and ATP 250 event, will be held from 9 January and the Hobart International, a WTA 250, returns to Tasmania for the first time since 2020.
For further information on the United Cup, please visit UnitedCup.com and follow @UnitedCupTennis on social media.
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