a new mixed country tournament to start the season

© Belgian

The 2023 tennis season will begin with a new mixed event, the United Cup, held in Australia between December 29 and January 8, as announced on Friday by the ATP and WTA.

This event will be endowed with $ 15 million in prizes and earning points in the world rankings, said the authorities governing the men’s and women’s world tennis circuits.

The course of the tournament

The United Cup, split between Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, will pit 18 nations each represented by up to eight players (four men, four women). A first phase (December 29 – January 4) will see the 18 countries divided into six groups of three with two men’s singles, two women’s singles and a mixed doubles. The cities of Brisbane, Perth and Sydney will each host two of these six groups.

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The winners of the two groups will then compete in each of the three cities and the three nations thus qualified will play a subsequent phase in Sydney (6-8 January). A quarter, the best of the first stage, will complete this Final Four, which will take place on January 8, eight days before the start of the Australian Open, the first round of the Grand Slam.

“The United Cup is an important and strategic collaboration between the WTA, the ATP and the Australian Tennis Federation that reflects an ongoing commitment to advance our sport. “commented WTA boss Steve Simon. “This team tournament in singles and mixed doubles will bring together emerging stars and established athletes from our two circuits on the same field.”

“We are thrilled to see the best men and women, with ATP and WTA points up for grabs, kick off the season like never before. “said the president of the ATP, Andrea Gaudenzi.