The first balls of the 2024 season will be struck on Friday in Perth, where the United Cup commences with Group A and Group C action at the 18-country mixed-teams event.
Home favourites Australia will begin its campaign against Great Britain on Friday evening in the RAC Arena and a lively atmosphere is expected. Each tie consists of three rubbers, with Alex de Minaur facing Brition’s Cameron Norrie, Ajla Tomljanovic playing Katie Boulter and a mixed doubles closing out the session.
Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt is ready to go.
“Obviously coming into a new season, we're very fortunate to be the host nation and for these guys to get the opportunity to play at home,” Hewitt said. “Big event, but also get the crowd support. Only a couple weeks out from a Grand Slam as well. I think everything has gone to plan so far.”
De Minaur fell to Norrie at the United Cup in Sydney last season and will be hoping to gain revenge against the British lefty as he seeks a strong start to the season to boost his Top 10 Pepperstone ATP Rankings hopes.
"I think I'm coming off my best season and a year where I felt like a couple of things have clicked and I have been able to accomplish a lot of what I set my mind out to," said the World No. 12. "But saying that as well, I'm pretty close to breaking into that Top 10. It is a goal of mine. It's not going to come easy.
"I'm doing all the right things. Hopefully a good Australian summer can put the right step into the right direction and hopefully I can accomplish that."
Getting ready for the big dance 💪 👀 🔥#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/fjD7iq5p47
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 28, 2023
World No. 56 Boulter will meet Tomljanovic in the women’s singles. The Briton is excited to make her debut at the event against the Australian.
“I'm looking forward to it,” Boulter said. “We knew the draws quite early. Had quite a lot of time to prepare and sort my tactics. She's an incredible player. She's beaten a lot of really highly-ranked players herself. She's very well-established.
“I think I'm going to have to play some very good tennis, especially in front of an Australian crowd. Expecting it to be a little bit rowdy out there. I think I'm going to use it, really relish the moment and enjoy it. It's the start of a new season and I can't wait to get going.”
In the early tie, Spain will meet Brazil in Group A from 10am local time.
Spain competed at the event last year and is led by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at this season’s edition. The World No. 26 will play Thiago Seyboth Wild in the men’s singles. Seyboth Wild, who leads Davidovich Fokina 1-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, upset Top 3 star Daniil Medvedev at Roland Garros in May.
Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo will face Beatriz Haddad Maia in the women’s singles. The World No. 11 Haddad Maia has won three WTA singles titles and holds a 3-2 WTA Head2Head record against Sorribes Tormo.
ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2023
RAC Arena start 10:00 am
A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs T. Seyboth Wild (BRA)
S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP) vs B. Haddad Maia (BRA)
S. Sorribes Tormo (ESP) / A. Davidovich Fokina (ESP) vs B. Haddad Maia (BRA) / M. Melo (BRA)
Not Before 5:00 pm
C. Norrie (GBR) vs [15] A. de Minaur (AUS)
K. Boulter (GBR) vs [15] A. Tomljanovic (AUS)
K. Boulter (GBR) / N. Skupski (GBR) vs [15] S. Hunter (AUS) / M. Ebden (AUS)
