The second edition of the United Cup will be held across two cities in 2024 with ties being reduced to one session.
Sydney and Perth are set to hold the mixed event which will feature a total of 18 teams participating. They will be divided into six groups of three. The winners of each of those groups will then progress to the quarter-finals. Two further places will also be up for grabs for the best runner-ups (in terms of points) in each city.
Under changes made to the format, next year ties will be reduced from best-of-five to best-of-three which will all take place in one session. There will be two singles matches and a mixed doubles. Furthermore, teams will only be allowed to have a maximum of three male and three female players.
“After the brilliance of the inaugural United Cup in 2023, I’m delighted the mixed team event will return to Sydney and Perth in 2024,” United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow said in a press release.
“The United Cup holds a unique position in global tennis, with the world’s best men and women representing their country at the highest level. Eighteen teams, featuring some of the biggest personalities in the sport, will play across two cities for big prizemoney and big ranking points.
“We saw this year how passionate and intense the crowds were in supporting the United Cup – it was tennis at it’s very best. That’s what it’s all about and we can’t wait to bring that excitement and energy back to Sydney and Perth this summer.”
A minimum of $15M (AUS) will be on offer in prize money for those participating, as well as 500 ATP and WTA Tour ranking points. Players have until 17th October to enter the tournament for the first 16 teams. Then another two teams will be decided on November 20th. Twelve of them will qualify for the tournament based on the highest ranking of the male and female players who have entered. Then the other six will be determined by the combined ranking of the highest ranking of the men’s and women’s players from the same country. Host nation Australia is guaranteed entry no matter what.
These changes to the event come amid the return of the Brisbane International which will be taking place during the same week. That tournament will be categorized as a WTA 500 for women and as an ATP 250 for men.
The official draw for the United Cup will begin on October 23rd. The tournament will be held between December 29 – January 7th. America is the defending champions.
