The groups have been announced for the 2024 United Cup in Perth and Sydney.
Grand Slam champions Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek will begin their respective 2024 United Cup campaigns in Perth, following the official draw on Monday.
Defending champions, the United States, will battle Australia and Great Britain in a loaded Group C, also in the West Australian capital, while a blockbuster clash between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime is on the cards when Greece and Canada square off in Sydney.
World No.1 Djokovic will lead Serbia in the nation’s United Cup debut in Group E against the Czech Republic and China. After adding a 10th Australian Open and record 24th major trophy with a fourth US Open this year, the 37-year-old begins the new season alongside Olga Danilovic and will likely face world No.30 Jiri Lehecka and No.57 Zhang Zhizhen in his group stage singles matches.
Wimbledon champion and world No.6 Marketa Vondrousova leads the Czech team alongside Lehecka and will likely face China’s rising world No.18 Zheng for the first time.
PERTH
Group A
Poland
Spain
WTA TBC
Group C
United States
Great Britain
Australia
Group E
Czech Republic
China
Serbia
SYDNEY
Group B
Greece
Canada
ATP TBC
Group D
France
Italy
Germany
Group F
Croatia
Netherlands
Norway
TEAM USA WITH TOUGH PATH TO DEFENCE
Of the top four seeds, the United States faces arguably the most challenging route out of the group stage in its bid to defend the title.
US spearhead Jessica Pegula would be up against the home crowd should she take on Ajla Tomljanovic in the Australia tie in Perth. The world No.5, who last year landed an imposing win over then-No.1 Swiatek en route to the final, was also drawn to meet world No.53 Katie Boulter in the team’s showdown with Great Britain.
As the current No.1 in doubles, the 29-year-old could be pivotal to the United States’ chances of going back-to-back. Her teammate from the 2023 triumph, world No.10 Taylor Fritz, also returns and is expected to face two familiar top-20 foes – world No.13 Alex de Minaur and world No.18 Cameron Norrie – in the group stage.
The American holds a 7-6 record against Norrie but trails de Minaur 3-4. Top-ranked Australian de Minaur beat Fritz and Norrie (2-1 overall) en route to his first Masters 1000 final in Toronto in August.
SWIATEK LEADS TOP SEED POLAND
Four-time major winner Swiatek and men’s world No.11 Hubert Hurkacz begin top-seeded Poland’s quest for the trophy against Spain and a yet-to-be-determined nation in Group A. The 22-year-old Swiatek scooped the silverware at Roland Garros for a third time in June while Hurkacz landed his second Masters 1000 title in Shanghai this month.
Hurkacz could have his work cut out squaring a 2-3 ledger against his Wimbledon conqueror Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
GREECE TO LIGHT UP SYDNEY
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari lead second-seeded Greece into battle against Canada and a yet-to-be-determined nation in Sydney.
Last year’s Australian Open runner-up Tsitsipas has claimed five of eight encounters with world No.17 Auger-Aliassime, while ninth-ranked Sakkari will carry a 2-0 record into a likely meeting with former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.
KERBER RETURNS TO PARTNER ZVEREV
Three-time major champion Angelique Kerber makes her anticipated return following the birth of daughter Liana in February. The former No.1 will compete Down Under for the first time in almost two years when she and men’s world No.9 Alexander Zverev headline Germany’s bid in Group D in Sydney.
Fourth seeds France and last year’s finalists Italy round out the group. Kerber owns six victories from nine meetings with French world No.20 Garcia. Following Italy’s upset of Greece to reach last year’s final, a new-look team headed by Jasmine Paolini and Lorenzo Sonego will lead the nation’s 2023 hopes.
RUUD LEADS NORWAY
World No.8 Casper Ruud returns to lead Norway’s chances in Group F against Croatia and The Netherlands in Sydney. The 24-year-old reached a second straight Roland Garros final in June and while yet to beat Croatian Borna Coric, he denied Dutch world No.25 Tallon Griekspoor in their only prior meeting. It will be Coric’s first event since the US Open when he teams up with world No.24 Donna Vekic.
Source : ATP Tour