The 2026 United Cup draw has delivered one of the most intriguing early-season storylines, setting the stage for a possible blockbuster meeting between stars like Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu.
Both players anchor their national teams in Group E, creating a possibility that the two Grand Slam champions will meet as part of the round-robin slate. With Osaka returning to team competition for Japan’s debut appearance and Raducanu leading Great Britain alongside Jack Draper, the group is shaping up to be one of the most competitive tournaments.
A Comprehensive Look at the 2026 United Cup Format and Schedule
The United Cup has quickly carved out its own space on the tennis calendar as the combined curtain-raiser for both the ATP and WTA Tours. Scheduled for Jan. 2 to 11 across Perth and Sydney, the event combines men’s and women’s tennis into a single team format.
Eighteen nations will once again participate, with squads comprising up to three men and three women, all competing on outdoor hard courts. The tournament’s format remains consistent, with round-robin group play feeding into a knockout bracket that culminates in Sydney. The United States enters as the defending champion, having lifted the trophy in 2025.
This year’s field is determined through a combination of ATP and WTA singles rankings, as well as combined rankings for dual-strength squads, with Australia guaranteed a place as the host nation. The groups feature several eye-catching combinations. Team USA headlines Group A with Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz leading the charge against Spain and Argentina. Group B comprises Canada, China, and Belgium.
Here 👏 we 👏 go#UnitedCup 2026 is SET! pic.twitter.com/XCmE1k8332
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) November 17, 2025
Group C comprises Italy, France, and Switzerland, with Swiss veterans such as Stan Wawrinka and Belinda Bencic bringing valuable experience. Group D delivers Australia, the Czech Republic, and Norway. Group F closes the lineup with Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.
MORE: Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, Taylor Fritz, and Other Top Stars Who Will Start 2026 Run at United Cup
Yet it is Group E that instantly grabbed attention, as Great Britain, Greece, and Japan create a triangle rich in star power. Alongside Raducanu and Osaka, the group includes Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari for Greece.
Each matchup features a men’s singles match, a women’s singles match, and a mixed doubles contest, which often becomes the deciding factor in group outcomes. With only group winners and select top runners-up advancing, every match carries weight, raising the stakes for a potential Osaka-Raducanu faceoff.
AloJapan.com