Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz Lead U.S. Team at 2026 United Cup in Australia Ahead of Australian Open

PERTH/SYDNEY: The United States will defend its United Cup championship next week in Australia, led by third-ranked Coco Gauff and sixth-ranked Taylor Fritz, who will team up once again in the unique combined ATP-WTA event.

The United Cup, the only tournament featuring combined men’s and women’s teams, will kick off the 2026 tennis season on January 2 in Perth and Sydney. The competition provides a vital warm-up for top players ahead of the Australian Open, scheduled to begin on January 18 in Melbourne.

A total of 18 teams, each comprising one ATP and one WTA player, will compete in six three-team pools through round-robin play. The top team from each group, along with the best runner-up, will advance to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals are set to take place in Sydney on January 10 and 11, with all matches contested on hard courts.

Each tie features three matches: an ATP singles match, a WTA singles match, and a mixed-doubles match, ensuring a comprehensive test for players and strategic team play.

The U.S. squad enters the tournament as the defending champions, having defeated Poland 2-0 in the 2025 final. The United States also won the inaugural 2023 event, sweeping Italy 4-0, while Germany claimed the 2024 title with a 2-1 victory over Poland.

Poland is expected to be a formidable opponent, featuring No. 2 Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, a former top-10 player currently ranked 73rd.

The United States will compete in Group A in Perth, facing Argentina on January 3 and Spain on January 5. With Gauff and Fritz leading the charge, the U.S. aims to continue its recent dominance in the event and set a strong tone for the 2026 season.