United Cup 2025: World’s best tennis stars set to shine in Perth

The world’s best tennis players will arrive later this month for the blockbuster United Cup, the innovative mixed team tennis event staged in Perth and Sydney from Friday 27 December to Sunday 5 January 2025.

Eighteen countries featuring up to three men and up to three women will compete for a minimum AUD $15 million in prize money and 500 PIF ATP and WTA rankings points.

The group stage in Perth will kick start the United Cup on Friday 27 December at RAC Arena. Perth will feature nine teams, including six of the world’s top 15 singles players.

Each tie features one men’s singles match, one women’s singles match and one mixed doubles match.

Group winners in each city will advance to the quarterfinals with one quarterfinal spot in each city awarded to the best runner up in that city.

The quarterfinals in Perth will be held on Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day).

Teams who reach the semifinals in Perth will travel to Sydney on Thursday 2 January for a chance to play for the coveted United Cup at Ken Rosewall Arena from Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 January.

Top seeds, Team USA, led by 2023 US Open champion and world no.3 Coco Gauff and world no.4 and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz will headline Group A in Perth, alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez’s Team Canada and Paris Olympics silver medallist Donna Vekic and Borna Coric of Team Croatia.

Twenty-year-old Gauff, who was the flag bearer for the United States at the Olympic Games in Paris, thrives in a team environment.

“This will be my first time playing the United Cup so I’m super excited to kick off the year in Australia,” Gauff said. “It’s always an honour to represent my country.”

“It’s a really, cool event. I had a lot of fun playing mixed doubles at the Olympics so I kinda want to do that again.

“I’ve never been to other parts of Australia, other than Melbourne.”

World No.2 Alexander Zverev, who helped guide Team Germany to a memorable comeback win over Poland to secure the second edition of the United Cup, used the event to set up a stellar season, including deep runs at the Grand Slams and the Roland Garros final.

The 27-year-old, who holds 22 ATP singles titles, is looking forward to making his third appearance at the tournament.

“It’s the first week of the year… and we all want to be in Australia and play against the best players in the world and that’s what the United Cup brings,” Zverev said.

“Playing for your nation is obviously extremely special and I have the best memories from this year.”

The unique team environment United Cup offers is also a big motivation for Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime who are set to line up for Team Canada again in 2025.

“I want to play United Cup 2025 because it’s such a fun team experience,” said Fernandez, a US Open finalist in 2021.

“I love being part of a team... I get to see a little bit more of the men’s side of the team and also how they think on court, I get to pick their brains a little bit.

“I also think the interaction between all of us [is special], we grew up together so it’s good to have that moment to catch up.”

Auger-Aliassime agrees, “It’s a great way to start the year,” he said.

“I’ve had great success [playing for my country] and mixing up with Leylah, is always good. I love her energy, I love her game so it’s going to be a lot of fun.

“It’s honestly my favourite thing, some of my favourite weeks on tour [playing as part of a team].”

Greece’s (11) Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, China’s (5) Zheng Qinwen and Kazakhstan’s (6) Elena Rybakina will also feature in Perth this summer.

Perth Groups

Group A – USA, Canada, Croatia

Group C – Greece, Kazakhstan, Spain

Group E – China, Germany, Brazil

Sydney Groups

Group B – Poland, Czechia, Norway

Group D – Italy, France, Switzerland

Group F – Great Britain, Australia, Argentina

The group stage in Perth (RAC Arena) runs from Friday 27 December to Tuesday 31 December. The quarterfinals in Perth will be held on Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day). Tickets are available now.