By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday, October 27, 2022
Goodbye ATP Cup – hello United Cup.
The ATP and WTA Tour will unite in January to create the United Cup, a new team event that will feature mixed doubles. The ATP-WTA event, presented in partnership with Tennis Australia, will feature teams from 18 countries competing across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney over 11 days, from Thursday 29 December to Sunday 8 January 2023.
Additionally, $15 million in prize money will be on the line, as well as 500 ATP Rankings and WTA rankings points.
How they will qualify
12 countries will qualify via the six highest-ranked No. 1 players that enter, on both the ATP Tour and WTA Tour, and the remaining six countries will qualify according to the best combined ranking of their respective No. 1 men’s and women’s players.
Teams will feature three to four players from each Tour. The draw will take place Thursday 10 November.
Tickets for the United Cup go on sale on Friday 11 November. Brisbane (Pat Rafter Arena), Perth (RAC Arena) and Sydney (Ken Rosewall Arena) will host the group stage from Thursday 29 December to Wednesday 4 January 2023.
The final four will take place in Sydney from January 6-8.
We are excited to announce the launch of #UnitedCup, our new international team event in collaboration with @WTA and presented by @TennisAustralia!
🌏Top 18 countries competing
📌 Sydney, Brisbane and Perth
📆 29 DEC 2022 – 8 JAN 2023— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 27, 2022
Here is more about the event from an emailed statement, including quotes from Andy Murray, Casey Dellacqua, ATP CEO Andrea Gaudenzi, WTA CEO Steve Simon and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley.
Each city will host two groups of three countries, competing in a round-robin format, with ties comprising two ATP and two WTA singles matches, and one mixed doubles match. Each City Final winner will advance to the United Cup Final Four in Sydney (6-8 January), with the next best performing team from the group stages completing the quartet.
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray said that the new event would leverage tennis’ inherent advantage over other sports. “I love to see the men and women competing together. It’s something I’m very excited about,” he said. “We’re the only global sport where men and women compete at the same venues, which is something very special about our sport and something to be celebrated. Big events like this will help.
“I’m sure all the players will be very passionate about…
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