• United Cup returns to Australia from 2–11 January with 18 nations competing.
• Format: round-robin groups in Perth and Sydney, ties include men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles.
• Top stars on show: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Naomi Osaka.
• Matches stream on Tennis Channel in multiple markets; tournament is key warm-up for the Australian Open.
Format: mixed-team ties and knockout finish
The United Cup runs from 2–11 January 2026 across Perth and Sydney. Eighteen nations are divided into six groups of three for round-robin play. Each tie features three matches the same day: one men’s singles, one women’s singles and one mixed doubles. Singles are best-of-three tie-break sets; mixed doubles are two tie-break sets with a deciding 10-point super tie-break if needed.
Group winners advance to the quarter-finals, joined by the best runner-up from each host city. Quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final are knockout matches, with the semis and final held in Sydney.
Groups and schedule highlights
Ties kick off in Perth on 2 January and continue through group play across both cities. Notable group matchups include:
- Perth Group A: United States, Spain, Argentina
- Sydney Group F: Germany, Poland, Netherlands
The tournament schedule builds toward quarter-finals from 7–9 January, semis on 10 January and the final on 11 January. The United Cup is scheduled right before the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on 12 January, making it a final competitive tune-up for many players.
Players to watch: iga swiatek and other big names
Poland headline their Group F with world No.1 Iga Swiatek paired with Hubert Hurkacz — a strong mixed team pairing that finished runners-up in recent editions. Swiatek’s presence gives Poland a clear boost in singles and mixed doubles depth.
The United States bring Coco Gauff, with last year’s headlines still fresh after Gauff defeated Swiatek in a key match during last year’s final. Germany counters with Alexander Zverev and a deep squad including top doubles options. Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini and Naomi Osaka for Japan add more star power across both venues.
Watch for matches featuring top-10 singles players that will shape momentum heading into Melbourne.
How to watch
All matches will stream live on the Tennis Channel in the U.S., Great Britain, Austria, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and India. Broadcasting rights vary by country; viewers should check the tournament site for the full list of international broadcasters. The United Cup website and official social channels will also carry highlights, score updates and behind-the-scenes content.
The 2026 United Cup promises high-stakes mixed-team action, with iga swiatek among the headline names aiming to help Poland go one step further and capture the title before the Australian Open starts.
Image Referance: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/united-cup-2026-format-schedule-stars-and-how-to-watch-mixed-team-tennis-tournament
