Gauff and Fritz to Lead Team USA at United Cup 2026 as Star-Studded Line-Up Revealed

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 Stars

Five 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.