For tennis players, the 2026 season is jam packed with two events already scheduled in January month. The first is the United Cup, in which around 18 nations will compete in the mixed team event, which will be played across Perth and Sydney starting on Friday, January 2, 2026.
This includes defending champions United States (2023 and 2024), Spain, Argentina, Italy, France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Greece, Japan, Canada, Belgium, People’s Republic of China, Australia, Czech Republic, Norway, Germany (2024), Poland, Netherlands.
The tournament will serve as a preparation match for players heading into the Australian Open, which will begin from January 12 to February 1, 2026, in Melbourne.
The United Cup will see some of the world’s top 10 women’s tennis players, including Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Stan Wawrinka. Meanwhile, the world’s top 10 men list comprises names like Alex de Minaur, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek, Alexander Zverev, Jasmine Paolini, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Jack Draper.
United Cup format
The 18 nations have been divided into six groups of three teams each, who will play each other in a round robin format. Three groups will play in Perth, while the remaining three will play in Sydney. The top team from each group will move to the quarter-finals and a knockout match, which will have two runner-up teams, one each from Perth and Sydney.
Each tie will consist of one of men’s and women’s singles, followed by a mixed doubles matchup. The singles match will involve the best-of-three tie breakers, while the mixed doubles matches will involve two tie-break sets, including a 10-point tie-break decider at one set all.
United Cup live streaming
The United Cup 2026 will be streamed live on the SonyLIV app and website in India, while the telecast will be done on the Sony Sports Network TV channels.
United Cup Group Division
Perth Group
Group A – United States, Spain, Argentina
Group C – Italy, France, Switzerland
Group E – Great Britain, Greece, Japan
Sydney Group
Group B – Canada, Belgium, People’s Republic of China
Group D – Australia, Czech Republic, Norway
Group F – Germany, Poland, Netherlands
Perth schedule
January 2
Group A – Spain v Argentina
Group E – Greece v Japan
January 3
Group C – France v Switzerland
Group A – USA v Argentina
January 4
Group E – Great Britain v Japan
Group C – Italy v Switzerland
January 5
Group A – USA v Spain
Group E – Great Britain v Greece
January 6
Group C – Italy v France
7 January
Quarter-Final 1 – Winner Group A v Best Runner-Up
Quarter-Final 2 – Winner Group C v Winner Group E
Sydney schedule
3 January
Group B – Belgium v People’s Republic of China
Group D – Australia v Norway
4 January
Group F – Germany v Netherlands
Group B – Canada v People’s Republic of China
5 January
Group D – Czech Republic v Norway
Group F – Germany v Poland
6 January
Group B – Canada v Belgium
Group D – Australia v Czech Republic
7 January
Group F – Poland v Netherlands
8 January
Quarter-Final 3 – Winner Group B v Best Runner-Up
9 January
Quarter-Final 4 – Winner Group D v Winner Group F
10 January
Semi-Final 1 – Winner Quarter-Final 2 v Winner Quarter-Final 3
Semi-Final 2 – Winner Quarter-Final 1 v Winner Quarter-Final 4
11 January
Finals – Winner Semi-Final 1 v Winner Semi-Final 2
