PREVIEW | 2024 UNITED CUP

Can Djokovic or Swiatek lead their nations to glory Down Under?

By Stephen Higgins | 27th December 2023

The United Cup, successor to the much loved Hopman Cup, returns for another edition to launch the 2024 season in Australia.

The event, which pits 18 nations of mixed players against each other, will take place from December 29th to January 7th in Perth and Sydney. Countries are divided into six groups of three and each winner, and the two best second-placed sides, progress to the quarter-finals.

The 2024 event has attracted a slew of the world’s top names including both singles world no.1s, 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic and four-time major winner Iga Swiatek. Other stars set to feature include Jessie Pegula, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas. The event will also witness Angelique Kerber’s return to the sport after pregnancy.

Here’s are the nations involved this time around: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Spain and the defending champions, the United States.

Apart from its appeal as a unique semi-exhibition mixed tournament on the calendar, the United Cup is a lucrative outing for the top players. Top 10 stars will receive $200,000 just for turning up and can then earn growing bonuses for both themselves and their team with success.

While the United Cup clearly has an exhibition feel, let’s proceed as if it’s semi-serious for the purposes of a preview!

Group A (Poland, Spain and Brazil)

With two top 10 players in Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz (no.9), 2023 semi-finalists Poland are the favourites in this group. Swiatek secured six titles in 2023 including Roland Garros while Hurkacz lifted a couple of trophies himself at Marseille and Shanghai. That said, Spain have a reasonable chance to upset with the streaky Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and tireless Sara Sorribes Tormo. Meanwhile, Brazil’s hopes rest on Roland Garros 2023 stars Beatriz Haddad-Maia and Thiago Seyboth Wild.

Group B (Greece, Canada and Chile)

While this looks to be Greece’s group to lose given the return of Tsitsipas and his great friend Maria Sakkari (no.9), it could prove to be an open affair. Canada’s Leylah Fernandez finished 2023 in great form with a title in Hong Kong before she helped her country win the Billie Jean King Cup. Compatriot Felix Auger-Aliassime will also be determined to start the year on a good note after a difficult 2023. As for Chile, they will struggle here with too much for Nicolas Jarry to do.

Group C (United States, Great Britain and Australia)

We have a battle here between three traditional tennis powers and I see the US and Australia battling for top spot. From their evniable pool of talent, America will bring world no.5 Pegula and world no.10 Taylor Fritz as their singles options. The US can also rely on a couple of super doubles players in Rajeev Ram and Desirae Krawczyk. Home favourites Australia know that Alex de Minaur will give absolutely everything on court while the returning Ajla Tomljanovic can trouble anyone on her day. Finally, after an underwhelming 2023, it will be interesting to see where Cam Norrie’s game is at as he leads the British charge alongside Katie Boutler.

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Group D (France, Italy and Germany)

I give a slight edge to Germany here given Zverev’s form and the expectation that the ultra professional Kerber will be in decent shape upon her return. If not, this one is tough to call with no Jannik Sinner bolstering the Italian ranks. France’s Adrian Mannarino could do some damage Down Under after his best season to date in 2023. Alas, it didn’t go quite as well for Caroline Garcia as the 2022 WTA Finals winner struggled to build on that form. Like Auger-Aliassime, Garcia could do with a good start to the new season. As for Italy, expect Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Sonego to compete well but probably fall short.

Group E (Czech Republic, China and Serbia)

The presence of Djokovic certainly makes Serbia contenders for the group but can they seriously challenge the big nations later on with world no.119 Olga Danilovic as the highest WTA option? Meanwhile, the Czechs have an exciting singles pair with Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova and the impressive 22-year-old Jiri Lehecka. China will fancy an upset here with two good singles options in world no.58 Zhizhen Zhang and the surging world no.15, Qinwen Zheng.

Group F (Croatia, Netherlands and Norway)

Croatia will be favourites here with two fine singles talents in Donna Vekic (no.23) and Borna Coric (no.37) joined by the world’s second-best ATP doubles player, Ivan Dodig. The Netherlands look tasty with one of the rising stars of the tour, Tallon Griekspoor (no.23), backed up by a super mixed pair in Wesley Koolhof and Demi Shuurs. As for Norway, it’s a good thing that Casper Ruud is such a fine athlete as he carries a nation on those shoulders.

Where To Watch

If you’re in the UK or Ireland, the 2024 United Cup will be shown on Tennis TV.