The 2026 United Cup is set for January 2-11 in Sydney and Perth. It is the fourth annual installment of an 18-team event that is divided into six groups of three countries for round-robin competition. Six group winners and the two best second-place finishes will make up the eight quarterfinalists.
Sydney will host the quarterfinals (January 8-9), semis (January 10), and final (January 11).
Each tie consists of one men’s singles rubber, one women’s singles rubber, and a mixed doubles match. Singles matches are best-of-three tiebreak sets. Mixed doubles matches are played with two tiebreak sets followed by a deciding match tiebreak to 10 points (win by two) if the first two sets are split.
“We’re extremely proud of this competition for what it represents and celebrates, the fact that our great sport of tennis is played by so many amazing athletes on both the female and male side of the sport,” said tournament director Stephen Farrow. “To bring those athletes together to play for not just big ranking points and prize money but for their country and national pride is what makes this competition so special.
“It’s an intense and exciting atmosphere with loads of fans coming to watch. Some of the top players in the world, truly engaged and wanting to win out there on court in Perth and Sydney. We have a huge amount to look forward to in January.”
Here is the draw for the 2026 United Cup:
Group A (Perth)
United States
Spain
Argentina
Group C (Perth)
Italy
France
Switzerland
Group E (Perth)
Great Britain
Greece
Japan
Group B (Sydney)
Canada
Belgium
China
Group D (Sydney)
Australia
Czechia
Norway
Group F (Norway)
Germany
Poland
Netherlands
The United States is the defending champion, and its bid to go back-to-back Down Under will be spearheaded by Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz. Other WTA stars in action are Iga Swiatek (Poland), Naomi Osaka (Japan), Emma Raducanu (Great Britain), and Victoria Mboko (Canada). Among the other ATP participants are Alexander Zverev (Germany), Felix Auger-Aliassime (Canada), Alex de Minaur (Australia), Jack Draper (Great Britain), and Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece).
The Americans also triumphed in 2023, while Germany lifted the trophy in 2024. Poland has finished runner-up two straight times.
AloJapan.com