(Sydney) To start his 2024 season, in Australia, world number 1 Novak Djokovic and Serbia will face China and the Czech Republic in the United Cup, according to the draw which took place on Monday.
In this mixed tournament of players representing their countries, which will take place from December 29 to January 7 in Perth, number 2 Iga Swiatek and Poland, seeded number 1, will meet Spain and a country to be determined.
If Djoko should use the tournament to prepare for the defense of his title at the Australian Open from January 15, the other tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who wishes to attempt a final comeback in 2024, has not been announced with Spain.
The United States, defending champions, led by Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula, will also play in Perth, against Australia and Great Britain.
Second-seeded Greece, which will include Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari among others, will begin in Sydney against a Canadian team including Félix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez.
Aged 35, German Angelique Kerber, former world number 1, will also be present in Sydney for her return from maternity leave.
She will represent her country alongside Alexander Zverev against Italy and France’s Caroline Garcia and Adrian Mannarino. Borna Coric and Donna Vekic will lead Croatia against the Netherlands and Casper Ruud’s Norway.
Each team, made up of three female and three male players, will compete in the group stage, with home and away matches in men’s and women’s singles and mixed doubles.
The group winners from each city advance to the quarter-finals, along with the best runner-up. The semi-finals and final will take place in Sydney and will feature a $15 million prize pool and ATP and WTA ranking points.
United Cup draw
Perth
- Group A: Poland, Spain, one nation to be confirmed
- Group C: United States, Great Britain, Australia
- Group E: Czech Republic, China, Serbia
Sydney
- Group B: Greece, Canada, one nation to be confirmed
- Group D: France, Italy, Germany
- Group F: Croatia, Netherlands, Norway
