23 Sep 2024
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Zheng Qinwen and Casper Ruud commit early to United Cup 2025
From Friday 27 December to Sunday 5 January, eighteen countries, featuring up to three men and up to three women, will compete across Perth and Sydney for the coveted trophy.
Team Greece will make their third appearance at the innovative mixed team tennis tournament and crowd favourite Tsitsipas is keen to return.
“Representing Team Greece in a team competition like that at the beginning of the year is something that allows me to be really patriotic and start the year very strong,” Tsitsipas said.
“The team we have built with Maria (Sakkari) over the last few years is definitely one that gives us a lot of opportunities to go big and create a lot of damage on the field.
“Getting the opportunity to have a lot of good individuals within one team gives us lot of motivation and a lot of reasons to go out there and fight for our best.
“Knowing that we come from a country rich in history and good traditions and values when it comes to sports is an extra reason to go out there and represent tennis, try and do as good as we can to uplift tennis and bring its highest value in our country.”
The Greeks qualified for the United Cup semifinals in 2023 and in 2024 advanced to the quarterfinals, falling to eventual champions Germany.
Australian Open 2024 finalist Zheng Qinwen’s WTA ranking has ensured Team China’s qualification.
“I’m delighted to be able to qualify China again for the United Cup,” said Zheng, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist.
“The United Cup presents a unique opportunity to play for our country in a mixed team environment, similar to the Olympics, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this experience together.”
United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow is delighted four top 15 players have been able to commit to the tournament this early.
“We are absolutely thrilled to see Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Zheng Qinwen and Casper Ruud commit to the United Cup – their early commitment is a testament to the quality of the event,” Farrow said.
“Tsitsipas and Sakkari qualified Greece at the first two editions of the United Cup. They are both fan favourites and are looking forward to starting their year with us in 2025.
“The Greek fans in both Perth and Sydney have supported the United Cup with great passion. They bring an unrivaled energy in support of their country’s biggest sporting stars, which is the essence of the United Cup
“Zheng has had an incredible 2024 - she reached the final of the Australian Open in January, won gold in Paris and has maintained her top 10 ranking throughout the year. She’s a great player and a big personality and it’s fantastic to welcome her back to the United Cup.
“Casper Ruud’s consistent results on the tour has again allowed Norway to secure their position at the United Cup for another year. Ruud’s early commitment recognises the value in participating in global team competitions.”
The official draw will be held on Monday 21 October and will determine which city Greece, China and Norway will contest the United Cup Group Stage.
Participation in the United Cup is subject to players committing by the tournament’s entry deadline of 16 October for the first 16 teams. The remaining two teams will be decided after the second qualification date of 19 November.
Ten countries will qualify for the United Cup via the five highest-ranked men and five highest-ranked women entered based on their PIF ATP and WTA rankings.
Eight teams will qualify according to the best combined ranking of the highest-ranked men’s and women’s players from the same country.
- The third edition of United Cup will be held from Friday 27 December to Sunday 5 January 2025
- The group stage in Perth (RAC Arena) runs from Friday 27 December to Tuesday 31 December. The quarterfinals in Perth will be held on Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day)
- The group stage in Sydney (Ken Rosewall Arena) runs from Saturday 28 December to Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day). The quarterfinals in Sydney will be held across Thursday 2 and Friday 3 January
- Sydney will host two semifinals on Saturday 4 January followed by the United Cup final from 5.30pm on Sunday 5 January
- Teams travelling from Perth to Sydney have a travel day and rest day before their semifinal matches
- At the entry deadline on 16 October, ten countries will qualify for the United Cup via the five highest-ranked men and five highest-ranked women entered, based on their PIF ATP and WTA rankings
- Eight teams will qualify according to the best combined ranking of the highest-ranked men’s and women’s players from the same country
- New for 2025 - at the second qualification date, if there is a player in the Top 10 (maximum 1 ATP and 1 WTA player) of the latest PIF ATP or WTA rankings who has entered and has an eligible team but has not been accepted based on their individual ATP/WTA ranking, they will be accepted, and their team will replace the lowest ranked team with combined ranking
- Australia is guaranteed entry, either directly via ranking or as a wildcard
- Each city will host nine teams each - three groups of three countries, competing in a round robin format
- Each tie will comprise one men’s singles and one women’s singles match featuring the No.1 ranked singles players, and one mixed doubles match
- Singles matches are best of three tie-break sets. Mixed doubles matches are two tie-break sets with a deciding match tie-break (10 point) at one set all
- Group winners in each city advance to the quarterfinals with one quarterfinal spot in each city awarded to the best runner up in that city
- Winners will progress to the semifinals and final to be played in Sydney
- The United Cup official draw will be held on 21 October and will determine where the top 16 countries will play. The second qualification date of 19 November will determine the final two teams.
- Tickets for the United Cup quarterfinals in Perth are now on sale via Ticketek
- Tickets for the United Cup quarterfinals, semifinals and final in Sydney are now on sale via Ticketmaster
- Tickets to the United Cup group stages go on sale in late October
Follow @UnitedCupTennis on social media for the latest tournament news.
Highlights include:
- Interview soundbites from Team Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Tsitsipas and Sakkari match highlights from United Cup 2024 Sydney
- Zheng match highlights from United Cup 2024 Perth
- Ruud match highlights from United Cup 2024 Sydney
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The United Cup, an ATP-WTA event presented in partnership with Tennis Australia, offers a minimum AUD $15 million / USD $10 million in prize money and 500 PIF ATP and WTA rankings points.
The tournament is proudly supported by host city partners, the WA Government through Tourism WA and the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.