Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz will lead Team USA in defence of their United Cup title in Australia, organisers announced on Thursday, as the 2026 tournament line-up was officially unveiled.The American duo guided the United States to victory at the season-opening ATP–WTA mixed team event earlier this year, edging Poland in a thrilling final. Gauff defeated world number two Iga Świątek, while Fritz triumphed over Hubert Hurkacz to seal the championship.The upcoming edition of the United Cup, running from 2 to 11 January 2026, will see 18 nations competing across Sydney and Perth in one of the key warm-up tournaments ahead of the Australian Open.“The entry list for the United Cup this summer is world-class,” said tournament director Stephen Farrow. “We look forward to the official draw next Monday to determine where our 18 countries will play across Perth and Sydney.”A Global Line-Up of Tennis StarsFive of the world’s top 10 men and four of the top 10 women are set to participate. Each team will feature three men and three women, with ties comprising one men’s and one women’s singles match, followed by a decisive mixed doubles clash.Among the headline names:Iga Świątek leads Poland’s campaign for revenge after losing the 2025 final.Alexander Zverev and newcomer Eva Lys return for Germany, winners of the 2024 title.Naomi Osaka will represent Japan alongside 2019 junior Wimbledon champion Shintaro Mochizuki, marking Japan’s debut at the event.Alex de Minaur heads the Australian team, while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari return for Greece.Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu lead Great Britain’s hopes, and Jasmine Paolini headlines Italy’s challenge.Meanwhile, several major stars are pursuing alternative pre-season paths. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will face off in an exhibition match in South Korea on 10 January before heading to Melbourne for the Grand Slam opener. Novak Djokovic is yet to announce his early-season schedule.On the women’s side, Madison Keys – the defending Australian Open champion – is set to compete at the Adelaide International (12–17 January) alongside Belinda Bencic. Aryna Sabalenka, who Keys stunned in the 2025 Melbourne final, begins her campaign at the Brisbane International, chasing a fifth Grand Slam crown.Key Takeaways:Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz headline Team USA for United Cup 2026.18 countries to compete across Sydney and Perth from 2–11 January.Iga Świątek, Alexander Zverev, Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu among global stars.Sinner and Alcaraz opt for exhibition match in South Korea before the Australian Open.Tournament director Stephen Farrow hails a “world-class” entry list.With its blend of top-tier men’s and women’s matches, the United Cup continues to set the tone for the new tennis season, combining fierce national pride with world-class competition.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff has stressed the need for more money to be distributed from the sport’s four major tournaments, arguing that increased revenue-sharing would safeguard the long-term health of tennis.Gauff, currently ranked world number three, is part of a group of elite players pushing for a greater share of income, stronger welfare benefits, and a bigger voice in how the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open are run.In March, 20 players signed a letter to the Grand Slam heads demanding a rise in prize money and more direct consultation. A second letter, sent in the summer, underlined calls for the Slams to contribute to a player welfare fund, covering areas such as retirement security and maternity support.Speaking in Beijing after reaching the semi-finals of the China Open, Gauff said:For the long run of our sport and kind of the whole ecosystem I think that it’s really important.While discussions are ongoing, Gauff admitted uncertainty about the timeline:“They have been working with us behind the scenes on finding a solution, but I don’t know when it’s gonna happen.”Revenue and Welfare GapPlayers argue that despite generating far more money, the Grand Slams contribute less to player benefits compared with ATP and WTA tours. The tours reportedly provide tens of millions of dollars annually towards welfare, while the majors contribute nothing.Gauff clarified the group’s position:“We’re not talking about just raising the prize money for the champion, but also trickling all the way down.”She added: “We kind of want them to invest more in the Tour as a whole, not only when it comes to prize money, but the wellbeing of players. Our 200th best player, our 300th best player is struggling to make ends meet.”For Gauff, the issue extends beyond her own career:“I don’t know if it will happen in my career lifetime where it reaches that, but I want to leave this sport better than I found it.”Key Takeaways:Coco Gauff leads calls for Grand Slams to share more revenue with players.20 players signed letters pushing for higher prize money and welfare funds.Lower-ranked players highlighted as struggling financially.ATP and WTA invest tens of millions annually, while Slams contribute nothing.Gauff says reforms are essential for the sport’s long-term ecosystem.As the debate continues, pressure is mounting on the Grand Slams to step up and support not just the champions but the wider playing field that sustains professional tennis.

Novak Djokovic has once again raised concerns over the demanding tennis calendar, saying that players are “still not united enough” to bring about change despite years of discussions.The debate resurfaced this week after world number one Carlos Alcaraz pulled out of the Shanghai Masters to rest, following a string of injuries at the China Open. Fellow Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek also criticised the relentless schedule, arguing that the number of tournaments risks player health and performance.Speaking in Shanghai, Djokovic highlighted how the issue has persisted throughout his career:More than 15 years ago I was talking about us needing to come together and reorganise the schedule,” said the 38-year-old, who boasts 24 Grand Slam titles.The Serbian star admitted the problem is “very complex”, pointing out that the sport’s individual nature makes it difficult to unite players behind one vision.“It’s an individual sport... at the end of the day you can still make choices,” he said.However, Djokovic argued that “there are people who just don’t want to change things in our sport for the better... when it comes to the players’ welfare.”He stressed that genuine reform will only come if the game’s biggest names act collectively:“You need the top players, particularly, to sit down and roll up their sleeves and really care.”Djokovic begins his Shanghai campaign on Friday against Croatia’s Marin Čilić, currently ranked 94th. The Serb has reduced his schedule in recent years in a bid to extend his dominance at the top of the sport. His last appearance came at the US Open in September, where he was beaten in the semi-finals by Alcaraz.Key Takeaways:Djokovic says tennis players are “still not united enough” to reform the schedule.Alcaraz, Gauff, and Swiatek have all voiced frustration at the demanding calendar.Injuries at the China Open highlight growing concerns over player welfare.Djokovic urges top players to lead the push for meaningful change.Serb faces Marin Čilić in his Shanghai opener after a four-week break.With stars calling for reform, the pressure is mounting on tennis authorities to address the calendar and protect player welfare in a sport that continues to push its elite to the limits.