The United Cup marks a landmark mixed team competition organized by the ATP and WTA, designed to open the tennis season with a bold new format. Set to take place in Australia from late December to early January, the event runs from 29 December 2022 to 8 January 2023 and unfolds across three iconic Australian cities: Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney. Each country is represented by a squad of up to eight players, comprising four men and four women, delivering a dynamic blend of singles and mixed doubles. This event blends national pride with the excitement of team competition, inviting nations to showcase both depth and breadth in their top talent. [CITATION: ATP Tour and WTA press materials; Tennis Australia press release]
The United Cup awards a substantial prize purse of 15 million dollars and allocates 500 ranking points for both the ATP and WTA tours. The competition structure rewards strong national programs: the top 12 nations in the combined ranking standings will advance based on the performance of their top male and top female players, with the remaining six nations earning entry through a best combined ranking of their No. 1 players in each gender. This setup replaces the Hopman Cup, which traditionally gathered a country’s leading male and female players for two singles matches and one mixed doubles match but had not returned following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [CITATION: ATP/WTA announcements; historical context]
United Cup excitement was amplified through official social media channels, where organizers described the event as an international team tennis festival that kicks off the global circuit. The collaboration between the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour, and Tennis Australia underlines a shared commitment to presenting top-tier competition at the start of the season. Statements from industry leaders highlighted that gathering the world’s best players for a high-stakes, mixed-format event offers a compelling way to set the early tone for the year. [CITATION: United Cup social media announcements; official statements]
Each host city will host two groups, each consisting of three nations that compete in a round-robin format. Ties are structured to include two ATP singles matches, two WTA singles matches, and one mixed doubles encounter, creating a balanced mix that tests depth across singles and doubles disciplines. The group winners, along with the best-performing fourth team among the runners-up from the groups, advance to the Final Four. This final stage is scheduled to be held in Sydney from January 6 to 8, culminating in a decide-and-conquer finish that promises high-stakes drama and national pride on a world stage. [CITATION: Tournament format summaries; official schedules]
The birth of this competition represents a notable step in the ongoing evolution of international professional tennis. It reflects a broader strategy by the ATP and WTA to diversify the calendar and to provide players with unique, team-based competition that complements the traditional individual format. As Andrea Gaudenzi, who previously served as the ATP president and is a former professional player, suggested, bringing together the sport’s elite in a mixed-team setting with significant points on the line offers a powerful way to launch the season. The narrative around the United Cup emphasizes both competition quality and the opportunity for fans to witness camaraderie among top players from different nations. [CITATION: Interviews and official comments; ATP leadership quotes]