What is the United Cup, the mixed ATP and WTA tournament, and players in 2026: Zverev, Swiatek, Draper, Gauff...

All the male and female players taking part in the first ATP and WTA tournament of the year, and the only mixed one.
Text: Javier Escribano
Published 2025-12-26

The 2026 tennis season will officially begin on January 2 for both the ATP and WTA circuits, with the fourth edition of the United Cup in Australia, a competition that is highly unusual in the men's and women's circuits for several reasons: players represent their countries (as in the Davis Cup) but also earn individual ATP and WTA points, as much as 500 points for the winner.

But the main difference is that it is the only mixed-gender competition from ATP and WTA, with mixed-doubles matches as well as one men's and one women's singles match for each tie.

The 2026 United Cup will consist of 18 teams, divided into six groups, followed by direct-elimination ties starting from quarter-finals.

Best tennis players participating in United Cup 2026

Each of the countries will bring a team of around six players, three male and three female. These are the top two playears from each country and their ATP or WTA ranking:

USA

Taylor Fritz (6)
Coco Gauff (3)


Canada

Felix Auger-Aliassime (8)
Victoria Mboko (18)


Italy

Flavio Cobolli (22)
Jasmine Paolini (8)


Australia

Alex de Minaur (7)
Maya Joint (32)


Great Britain

Jack Draper (10)
Emma Raducanu (29)


Germany

Alexander Zverev (3)
Eva Lys (40)


Belgium

Zizou Bergs (43)
Elise Mertens (20)


France

Arthur Rinderknech (29)
Lois Boisson (36)


Poland

Hubert Hurkacz (47, protected)
Iga Swiatek (2)


Spain

Jaume Munar (36)
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (42)


Czechia

Jakub Mensik (19)
Barbora Krejcikova (10, protected)


Greece

Stefanos Tsitsipas (34)
Maria Sakkari (52)


Japan

Shintaro Mochizuki (92)
Naomi Osaka (16)


Argentina

Sebastian Baez (45)
Solana Sierra (66)


Netherlands

Tallon Griekspoor (25)
Suzan Lamens (87)


Switzerland

Stan Wawrinka (157)
Belinda Bencic (11)


Norway

Casper Ruud (12)
Malene Helgo (478)


China

Zhizhen Zhang (60, protected)
Zhu Lin (50, protected)


The United Cup, between January 2-11 in Perth and Sydney, will begin a series of tournaments in Australia, including the Brisbane International (WTA 500, ATP 250), the Adelaide International (WTA 500, ATP 250) and finally the Australian Open between January 18 and February 1, the first of four Grand Slams.

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