Exhibitions only serve to amuse the public while lining the pockets of the participants and sometimes the organizers. Under the leadership of Tennis Australia, which wants to make the most of the presence of the best athletes on the planet on its territory before the first Grand Slam of the season, the United Cup was created in 2023 with the collaboration of the ATP and the WTA. Here are the main foundations and how it works.
Eighteen qualified countries
This national team tournament brings together eighteen countries (United States, Canada, Italy, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, France, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, Japan, Argentina, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, China) which are invited. On what criteria? The ATP ranking of the best player in the country, the WTA ranking of the best player in the country, the ability to field a competitive team and media interest. These eighteen nations are divided into six groups of three countries on two different sites. One in Perth (RAC Arena) and the other in Sydney (Ken Rosewall Arena). The six group winners as well as the best runner-up in each city will compete in the quarter-finals. During each match a men’s singles, a women’s singles and a mixed doubles will be played.
What about Belgium?
Absent from the last two editions, our country will sign its return to the competition this year. Zizou Bergs and Elise Mertens will be the leaders of Belgium which also counts Kimmer Coppejans, Sander Gille, Greet Minnen and Lara Salden in its ranks. Christopher Heyman, coach of the Belgian number one, will take on the role of captain. Placed in Group B, in Sydney, our country will challenge China of Zhang Zhizhen and Zhu Lin on Saturday January 3, and Canada of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Victoria Mboko on Tuesday 6.
Quel prize-money ?
The 2026 edition of the United Cup will offer a minimum of 12 million dollars, i.e. a minimum of 6 million for ATP players and 6 million for WTA representatives. The total amount of winnings is divided into three parts: the participation fees for each team, the winnings by country according to collective performances and the individual prize money according to the results but also the ranking of the player in the world ranking and his position in his training. Which promises a big headache for the accountant of the event.
Elise Mertens opens up as she rarely does before the start of the new season.
How many ATP and WTA points?
What ensures, in part, the success of the first tournament of the year despite the competition (WTA 250 Auckland, WTA 500 and ATP 250 Brisbane and ATP 250 Hong Kong), is that it offers points, in singles, to participants for the world ranking. In a unique way, but it delivers. For men, the units won will depend on the opponent’s ranking and the stage of the event. Beating a top 10 in the final will pay more than beating a player outside the top 100 in a pool match. For women, each success will offer a number of points. On either side, the maximum to be gleaned will be 500 units, the equivalent of a success on an ATP 500 for the men.
Which stars?
Although Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will not participate in the United Cup, the list of participants still looks good. On the men’s side, we will notably find Alexander Zverev (ATP 3), Felix Auger-Aliassime (ATP 5), Taylor Fritz (ATP 6), Alex de Minaur (ATP 7) and Casper Ruud (ATP 12). For the ladies, Iga Swiatek (WTA 2), Coco Gauff (WTA 3) and Jasmine Paolini (WTA 8) will be there, as will Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka and Victoria Mboko.
