Brazil and Chile have qualified for the United Cup, completing the 18-team line-up for the 2024 event.
Brazil qualified on the strength of their top WTA player Beatriz Haddad Maia, the current world No.11 who closed her 2023 season on a high note with victory at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.
She cracked the top 10 in June shortly after Roland Garros, where she enjoyed her best Grand Slam result with a run to the semifinals.
Haddad Maia will be joined by teammates Marcelo Melo, Thiago Seyboth Wild, Felipe Meligeni Alves and Carolina Alves.
Team Brazil has landed in Group A – headed by No.1 seed Poland – and will play its matches at RAC Arena in Perth. This sets up a showdown between Haddad Maia and world No.1 Iga Swiatek, a rematch of their Roland Garros semifinal.
TICKETS: Cheer for Team Brazil in Perth
"I'm happy to be able to participate in the United Cup once again," Haddad Maia said.
"It's a special competition and it will be a pleasure to play in Perth again after a few years. I'm excited and motivated to play and learn with the Brazilian team during the week."
This is Brazil’s second appearance at the United Cup, after exiting in the group stages of the inaugural 2023 event.
Chile qualified thanks to Nicolas Jarry, the 28-year-old who enjoyed a career-best season on tour and soared into the world’s top 20.
Jarry won ATP titles in Santiago and Geneva before reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros, performances which helped push him to a career-high ranking of 19th this month.
He headlines a Chilean squad also featuring Tomas Barrios Vera, Alejandro Tabilo, Daniela Seguel and Fernanda Labrana.
TICKETS: Cheer for Team Chile in Sydney
In its United Cup debut, Team Chile will play matches at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena as part of Group B, a strong group also containing second seeds Greece and Canada.
"I'm very happy to be able to compete in this year's United Cup. I didn't expect to qualify, since it's very difficult, and great players and countries are competing," Jarry said.
"But we got in, and I'm very happy to be able to represent my country once again. It's always very special for me, and I'll try to do my best.
"It's an amazing tournament to start to the year, so I'm very happy to have this opportunity to be in Sydney, and hope we can do well as a country."
Play at the 18-team competition kicks off on 29 December, the first event of the Australian Summer of Tennis. The semifinals and finals will be held in Sydney on 6 and 7 January.
MORE: United Cup 2024 schedule released
Teams are competing for AUD $15 million in prize money and 500 Pepperstone ATP and 500 WTA Tour rankings points.
The United Cup is an ATP-WTA event presented in partnership with Tennis Australia.
