Mertens Battles Past Topalova, Gives Belgium 2-1 Lead Over Bulgaria

Elise Mertens kicked off 2023 by giving Belgium a 2-1 lead over Bulgaria at the United Cup in Perth, though her 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 win over substitute Gergana Topalova wasn't all smooth sailing.

No.323-ranked Topalova was a last-minute replacement for Bulgaria's top WTA player, Viktoriya Tomova, who sustained a left calf injury in her Day 2 loss to Maria Sakkari. The 22-year-old was making her tour-level debut; indeed, she had never even played a WTA qualifying draw before, nor had she faced an opponent ranked higher than No.130.

However, Topalova had improved her year-end ranking from No.512 to No.308 over the course of 2022, and demonstrated why in an impressive performance against Mertens. She nailed a backhand winner on the second point of the match, and that shot would prove an impressive weapon across the one-hour, 55-minute contest.

Nonetheless, WTA Finals doubles champion Mertens' experience and all-court prowess kept her in front. The Belgian won 16 out of 22 points at net, and racked up 22 winners in total. However, her service level fluctuated somewhat; Mertens accumulated eight double faults, repeatedly beckoning Topalova back into the match.

But No.29-ranked Mertens was able to withstand her opponent's comeback attempts each time. She was twice up a break in the first set, but after being pegged back to 4-4 found her best returns and serves to take the last two games. And after Topalova came from 2-0 down in the second set to level the match, Mertens responded with a dominant third set in which she only conceded three points on serve.

Belgium are now one win from victory with two rubbers to go. ATP No.129 Zizou Bergs has the opportunity to seal the tie against Bulgaria's Dimitar Kuzmanov in the next match on RAC Arena, but the potential for the first mixed doubles deciding rubber remains alive.

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Ruud Keeps Alive Norway's United Cup Hopes Against Brazil

Norway began Sunday in a deep hole against Brazil trailing 0-2 in their United Cup tie, but World No. 3 Casper Ruud kept his country’s hopes alive.

In the first men’s singles match of the new year, Ruud defeated Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-2 to narrow the deficit to 1-2 in the tie. Ulrikke Eikeri will try to level the tie in the No. 2 women’s singles match when she faces Laura Pigossi. Norway must sweep Sunday's three matches to complete the comeback.

“It was a must-win, so I was maybe feeling the pressure a little bit, but I was able to come out with a good start and starting the new year in tennis down in Australia feels great. It’s always exciting to be here. My first time in Brisbane, so it’s been a great few days so far. I’m really enjoying the city and thanks to everyone who came out first day of the year to watch some tennis.”

Ruud picked up where he left off in a standout 2022 season, during which he climbed as high as No. 2 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and advanced to the championship match of the Nitto ATP Finals. Despite a slight hiccup when he fell behind 0-2 in the second set, the Norwegian stormed through the final six games of the match to triumph after 72 minutes.

“I always feel very motivated coming down here playing in Australia. Last year was a bit unfortunate. I was not able to play in the Australian Open. I rolled my ankle the day before my first round, so I’m very eager to hopefully have a good start of the season down here and this is a perfect way for me to start another year on Tour.”

Monteiro’s forehand was his undoing in the early going, as a slew of unforced errors allowed Ruud to find his comfort zone inside Pat Rafter Arena.

Although Ruud pushed a forehand long to fall behind a break in the second set, he never panicked, nor did he appear in trouble. The 24-year-old converted five of his six break point chances to take a 3-0 ATP Head2Head lead against Monteiro. He has not lost a set in any of those matches.

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Kvitova Seals Czech Republic Victory Against Germany

World No. 16 Petra Kvitova came through once again for Team Czech Republic, defeating Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-2 for her second win at the United Cup on Sunday. The victory gave the Czech Republic an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Team Germany, sealing the tie for the Czechs in Sydney.

Kvitova has come through two physical wins this week in Sydney. Her opening victory over World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, a tight 7-6(6), 6-4 win, was a big confidence boost for the former World No. 2, who saved seven set points in the first set to win in two.

That same resilience was on display against Siegemund. The scoreline betrays how tough the German made Kvitova work for the win. Siegemund generated 11 break points in the match - two more than Kvitova - but the Czech came through in the clutch. Despite 10 double faults on the day, Kvitova saved nine of 11 break points, while breaking Siegemund four times.

Denis Svrcina will face Germany's Oscar Otte in the second men's singles match of the Group C tie. Svrcina replaces Czech's No.2 men's player, Tomas Machac, who injured his ankle in his opening match against Frances Tiafoe. Team United States defeated Czech Republic 4-1 earlier this week.

The United Cup is a new mixed-teams event featuring 18 countries across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Played over two days, ties will be comprised of two ATP and two WTA singles matches and one mixed-doubles match.

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Coric & Vekic On Long-Term Friendship & Fashion Rivalry

Bringing ATP and WTA stars together at the United Cup may be something new, but many of the cross-Tour friendships within the 16 competing teams have considerably longer histories.

Take Team Croatia’s Borna Coric and Donna Vekic, who have known each other so long they can barely recall their first meeting.

“I think it was almost 20 years ago, so I don’t remember a lot, but we’ve known each other basically since we started playing tennis,” WTA No. 67 Vekic told ATPTour.com this week in Perth. “We’ve been together for our whole career.”

Coric retains a few more memories of the pair’s early days in their homeland.

“I remember her, we were playing under-10s in Zagreb,” said the No. 26 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, before smiling and starting to tease his teammate about her younger self. “I didn’t like her much back then actually, back then she was very nervous, very arrogant as well, but now she changed. So, I’m just enjoying spending time here with her and the whole team.”

“I don’t remember being arrogant!” laughed Vekic in response. “We’ve been friends for a very long time, and I think it’s maybe the last couple of years that we are even closer than before. We’ve spent almost every week together on Tour [over the years] so it’s good to have a close friend.”

Team 🇭🇷 is ready!! @UnitedCupTennis pic.twitter.com/hO74XIy2Cq

— Donna Vekic (@DonnaVekic) December 28, 2022

That mutual support has helped Coric and Vekic each come through tough challenges in recent years, with both undergoing surgery within three months of each other in early 2021. Coric only returned to the ATP Tour in March 2022 after a year out due to his shoulder injury, while Vekic’s knee operation in February 2021 caused a three-and-a-half-month absence and a longer battle to recapture her pre-surgery form.

Those difficulties made subsequent successes in 2022 even more rewarding for the pair. Coric lifted his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in spectacular fashion at August’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, while Vekic took out Top 10 opponents Maria Sakkari and Aryna Sabalenka at the San Diego Open in October, before pushing World No. 1 Iga Swiatek to three sets in the final.

“I’m just happy to see her do well,” said Coric. “She had a very, very tough year with the knee, and I had a very tough year with the shoulder, so obviously I’m super happy to see that she is doing well as well.”

“It’s great when we have success together, but we also went through a very difficult time in our careers, almost at the same time,” added Vekic, who was ranked No. 29 at the time of her operation but has a career-high of No. 19 in the Hologic WTA Rankings. “With my knee surgery, his shoulder surgery. It was great to have each other during that time, and now we are back together playing and that’s even more enjoyable.”

There were many highlights during Coric’s barnstorming run in Cincinnati, where he defeated five Top 20 players in a row, including Rafael Nadal, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the title. Vekic was in the stands supporting her countryman during his second-round triumph against Nadal, although her abiding memory of the weather-affected match has little to do with Coric’s on-court exploits.

“I was super annoyed with that rain delay, I wanted to go back and sleep!” joked Vekic. “But it was a great victory for him, yeah.”

[ATP APP]

Those positive vibes appear to have carried over into the 2023 season, as Coric and Vekic prepare to spearhead Team Croatia’s United Cup bid alongside WTA No. 38 Petra Martic. On Saturday, Vekic will meet Team Argentina’s Maria Carle while Coric takes on Francisco Cerundolo in their nation’s first tie in Group F.

“We feel great here,” said Vekic. “The atmosphere is amazing. I was in Perth once 10 years ago and I’m really happy to be back. Hopefully we can go through the group stage.

The duo is also slated to team up in Sunday’s mixed-doubles rubber at RAC Arena, although Coric admitted that some hard work on the practice court is required to ensure their on-court combination is ready.

“We will go to the practice court right now and we need to play some doubles, because I haven’t played any doubles for a very long time,” he said. “I think it’s the same for her [Vekic] to be honest… Maybe we played doubles [together] a couple of times, when we were 16 or 17, but we didn’t play together for a very long time, so it’s going to be very interesting if we go on the court and need to play.”

Should Coric and Vekic partner in Sunday’s doubles clash they will certainly hope their respective games are more in synch than their sense of fashion. The pair recently exchanged light-hearted shots on the topic on Twitter.

I think our fashion is still miles ahead of yours 💁🏼‍♀️💃🏼 https://t.co/5T9FYNdSlk

— Donna Vekic (@DonnaVekic) September 7, 2022

“I’m in a safe zone this week,” said Coric, referring to the standardised Team Croatia kit. “I cannot miss, so she cannot say any bad things.”

“I can still make fun of his hair!” retorted a laughing Vekic, a possibility Coric appeared to have already prepared for.

“That’s why I will [keep] my hat on!” he said.

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Van Uytvanck Overcomes Shinikova In Three Sets; Belgium Leads Bulgaria 1-0

Alison Van Uytvanck kicked off Belgium's United Cup campaign with a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 win over Bulgaria's Isabella Shinikova in one hour and 43 minutes.

Five-time Hologic WTA Tour titlist Van Uytvanck had entered as the favourite against No.381-ranked Shinikova and lived up to that status over a dominant first half-hour. She rattled through eight of the first 10 games, going up a break for 2-1 in the second set as Shinikova double faulted twice.

But Shinikova, who showed little sign of the leg injury that had beset her during a three-set defeat to Greece's Despina Papamichail on Day 1, struck back in style. Introducing more variety into her game, the 31-year-old added subtle chips and drop shots to her aggressive tactics to turn the second set around.

[ATP APP]

Van Uytvanck's error count increased from six to 20 as she struggled to adjust. Striking winners off both wings with real panache, Shinikova took five of the next six games to level the match and set her sights on a sixth career Top 100 win.

The start of the third set saw the highest level of tennis from both players, with Van Uytvanck conjuring a pinpoint lob winner off her toes in the first game and Shinikova scrambling up and down the court before finding a pass in the second. No.72-ranked Van Uytvanck reasserted her authority in the sixth game, coming up with a winning dropshot and taking advantage of two Shinikova double faults to break for 4-2.

That proved decisive. Van Uytvanck, now back in a groove on serve, closed out the win at the first time of asking, firing a forehand down the line on match point for her 31st winner of the day.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Potential Medvedev vs. Djokovic Blockbuster In Adelaide

Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev could be headed for an early-season showdown after both landed in the top half of the Adelaide International 1 draw. Top-seeded Djokovic and third-seeded Medvedev could meet in the semi-finals of the ATP 250, which features four Top 10 players.

In the bottom half, which contains four players in the Top 15 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is seeded to meet Rolex Paris Masters champion Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, with a potential meeting against fourth seed Andrey Rublev or sixth seed Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.

First up, Djokovic faces a first-time meeting with World No. 65 Frenchman Constant Lestienne, with the winner to play either Australian wild card Jordan Thompson or Frenchman Quentin Halys in the second round.

[ATP APP]

The first seed Djokovic could meet is seventh-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who opens against a qualifier.

Medvedev faces a first-time meeting with World No. 45 Italian Lorenzo Sonego in the opening round. Medvedev has lost all three meetings with Djokovic since denying the Serbian a calendar-year Grand Slam in the 2021 US Open final, but all three matches have been tight, including a third-set tie-break win for Djokovic in group play in November's Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

Auger-Aliassime, who begins the season as the World No. 6, opens against a qualifier and could play American Marcos Giron or French veteran Richard Gasquet in the second round.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

Rublev faces a searching opener against tough Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, whom he leads 4-3 in their ATP Head2Head series. The victor faces the winner of an intriguing first-round clash between American Sebastian Korda, who missed last year's Adelaide event due to Covid-19, and former World No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray.

Defending champion and hometown hero Thanasi Kokkinakis faces fellow big server Maxime Cressy in the first round, with the winner to play either sixth-seeded Sinner of Brit Kyle Edmund.

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Haddad Maia Maintains United Cup Dominance

World No. 15 Beatriz Haddad Maia improved her United Cup record to 2-0 after defeating Malene Helgo of Norway 6-4, 6-2 on Day 3 in Brisbane. The victory kicked off Brazil's tie with Norway, giving the Brazilians a 1-0 lead.

World No. 166 Felipe Meligeni Rodriguez Alves will try to extend Brazil's lead against World No. 343 Viktor Durasovic in the No. 2 men's singles match later on Saturday.

Haddad Maia has enjoyed a dominant start to her season, having lost just two games to Martina Trevisan of Italy on Day 1.

"I entered the court trying to improve my game, to do better things than I couldn't do two days before," Haddad Maia said. "I was trying to be as aggressive as I could. I was happy that I was patient and giving myself chances one more time, even if I was missing. I was happy with the way I was thinking in this match."

Read Feature: Team Brazil Pays Tribute To Pele

The most improved player of 2022, the 26-year-old out-matched her 319th-ranked opponent with a suffocating display from the baseline. The 23-year-old from Norway was making her Hologic WTA Tour debut, having never faced a player ranked inside the Top 90 before today.

On a rock-solid serving day, Haddad Maia did not face a break point while generating 11 chances of her own, breaking three times. She lost just 12 points on her serve in the tidy 91-minute match.

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Lehecka Earns Statement Win Against Zverev

Jiri Lehecka equalled the biggest win of his career by Pepperstone ATP Ranking Saturday when he upset World No. 12 Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-2 to give Team Czech Republic a 1-0 lead in its tie against Team Germany at the United Cup.

The 21-year-old was pumped up throughout the one-hour, 34-minute clash on Ken Rosewall Arena, producing a clean-hitting display to outlast Zverev in the baseline exchanges. The World No. 81 broke four times and looked sharp at the net, consistently moving forward effectively to finish points.

[ATP APP]

The 2022 Next Gen ATP runner-up Lehecka, who also defeated then-World No. 12 Denis Shapovalov en route to the semi-finals in Rotterdam last season, lost against Taylor Fritz in his opening match of the season earlier this week.

However, he has given his nation the perfect start to its tie against Germany as it looks to bounce back from its Group C tie defeat against Team United States. Marie Bouzkova will look to double her nation's lead when she faces Jule Niemeier in the second match of Day 3 in Sydney.

Zverev was competing for the first time since June when he tore three ligaments in his right ankle during his Roland Garros semi-final clash against Rafael Nadal. The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion showed glimpses of his best in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against Lehecka, but was unable to sustain it for prolonged periods, misfiring on his forehand in the crucial moments.

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Novak Djokovic suffers fresh Covid blow after arriving Down Under for Australian Open

Novak Djokovic continues to be affected by his unwillingness to receive the Covid vaccine.

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Thiem Headlines Australian Open Wild Cards

Former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem was awarded a main draw wild card into the Australian Open, the tournament announced Friday.

World No. 102 Thiem, who is continuing his comeback from a wrist injury, has enjoyed plenty of success at Melbourne Park. In 2020, the Austrian earned three consecutive Top 10 wins — including an upset of first seed Rafael Nadal — en route to the final at the season’s first major. Only Novak Djokovic was able to stop him in the championship match.

Thiem owns a 19-8 record at the Australian Open and has advanced to at least the Round of 16 in four of his past five appearances.

[ATP APP]

Tournament organisers also announced main draw wild cards for American Christopher Eubanks and Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

Eubanks is playing the best tennis of his career. The 26-year-old qualified for last year’s US Open, where he reached the second round of the main draw. The American also reached ATP Challenger Tour finals in the United States shortly thereafter.

Eighteen-year-old Van Assche reached a career-high No. 137 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings in December. The Frenchman won the Roland Garros boys’ singles title in 2021.

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Berrettini Puts Italy On Brink Of Victory Against Brazil

Matteo Berrettini made a good start to his season Friday and in doing so put Italy in position to close out its tie against Brazil at the United Cup.

The Italian powered past Brazilian No. 1 Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 7-6(7) to give his country a 2-1 lead. Lucia Bronzetti will now try to clinch the Group E tie in the No. 2 women’s singles match when she faces Laura Pigossi.

“Pretty happy I have to say. It’s been a long time since I’ve played my last singles match, so I didn’t know what to expect. I think the level was pretty high,” Berrettini said. “I’m happy for my performance, but obviously when you play in these kind of competitions the most important thing is to get the win and bring a point for the team and that’s why I’m even happier.”

Berrettini needed two hours and 51 minutes to defeat Monteiro last year on the clay of Rio de Janeiro. Their clash Friday was also tough, but after saving two set points in the second set the favoured Italian used his bigger game to hit his way to victory in Brisbane after one hour and 56 minutes.

Monteiro battled valiantly for his country, hitting a tremendous forehand passing shot at one moment late in the second set that drew raucous applause from the Pat Rafter Arena crowd. He also benefitted from the encouragement of his Team Zone, with captain Rafael Paciaroni and coach Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo urging him on throughout.

But his opponent’s firepower was simply too much to overcome. Berrettini dominated play with his serve — winning 88 per cent of his first-serve points (38/43) and not facing a break point — and dictated rallies with his forehand at every opportunity.

The No. 16 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings was unable to break serve in the second set and found himself up against it in the tie-break down 4/6. But after finding a sharp angle at the net in a cat-and-mouse point to retrieve the mini break, he did not relinquish another service point.

“It’s all about the heart, especially when you’re playing for Italy. When you see your teammates in the box, you have to give a little bit more and that’s what I tried to do,” Berrettini said. “Always playing tough matches against Thiago, really tough player. But I think I played better in the important moments and that’s why I won.”

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Kvitova Keeps Czech Hopes Alive With Dramatic Pegula Win

On Day 2 of the United Cup, Petra Kvitova wrote a new chapter in her history of heroics for the Czech Republic. The two-time Wimbledon champion saved seven set points in the opening set to defeat World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 7-6(6), 6-4 to give the Czech Republic their first win of the mixed-teams event in Sydney.

The win closed the Americans' lead to 2-1, with Frances Tiafoe to face Tomas Machac in the last singles match of the tie. A win for Tiafoe would seal the Group C tie for the Americans. Otherwise, the tie will be decided by mixed doubles.

"We keep fighting," Kvitova said. "I think USA is such a great team with great players in the team. We are not really favorites here, but we are fighting every match, every point. That's our team spirit."

[ATP APP]

The 80-minute opening set was a supreme tug-o-war. Neither player saw a break point through the first eight games of the match, leading to a dramatic finish that saw a combined 13 set points come and go between the two. Pegula gamely saved six set points to hold to 5-5 and then broke Kvitova straight away to earn a chance to serve out the set.

This time it was Kvitova's turn to come back from the brink. The former World No. 2 fired winner after winner from 6-5, 40-0 down to save four set points and break Pegula for the first time, forcing a tiebreak.

Again Kvitova fell behind and again she roared back. From 5-1 down in the tiebreak, Kvitova went on to save three more set points before earning her eighth set point at 7-6 and finally converting to seal the set.

After her first-set escape, Kvitova broke Pegula twice to build a quick 3-0 lead and managed the closing stages of the set to kick off her 2023 season with a Top 5 win.

The victory avenges Kvitova's loss to Pegula in the US Open's Round of 16 last fall and extended her edge in their head-to-head to 3-1.

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Rafael Nadal drops retirement hint after being asked if this is his last Australian Open

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Fritz Gives Team USA Fast Start In Sydney

Taylor Fritz wasted little time in earning his first win of the season Thursday when he overcame Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 to give Team United States a 1-0 lead against Team Czech Republic at the United Cup.

Competing on Ken Rosewall Arena, the World No. 9 outlasted the 21-year-old Lehecka in the baseline exchanges, demonstrating great footwork to dictate on his forehand throughout the 75-minute clash in Sydney.

“In a team event, first match of the year, there are always some nerves coming out, so it is great to come out and get the team ahead,” Fritz said. “Hopefully loosen everyone else up. It is a tough position to play if behind, so it is really good for the team.”

[ATP APP]

The 25-year-old also raised his level when needed, saving both break points he faced in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against Lehecka.

”When I was down, I felt that I was coming up with big serves when I needed the free points,” Fritz said. “I don’t think from the ground I maybe played my best, but when I was down break point or 0/30 I was coming up with big serves.”

Fritz enters the 2023 season off the back of a career-best year which saw him win three tour-level titles and crack the Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time. Lehecka also enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2022, reaching his maiden tour-level semi-final in Rotterdam before he advanced to the championship match at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

American Madison Keys will face Czech Marie Bouzkova in the second match of the Group C tie later on Thursday. The United Cup is a new mixed-teams event featuring 18 countries across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Played over two days, ties will be comprised of two ATP and two WTA singles matches and one mixed doubles match.

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Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek headline tennis event with mouthwatering £8.5m up for grabs

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Will Polish Powers Hurkacz & Swiatek Lead Poland To United Cup Glory?

Leave it up to Iga Swiatek to change the trajectory. 

In this case, we’re not talking about her on-court results. During Poland’s United Cup press conference Wednesday in Brisbane, Swiatek (in good fun) wanted to move on from the team camaraderie line of questioning.

To be fair, it’s safe to say her fellow Polish teammates are reveling in not only playing together at this inaugural team event, but have aspirations of succeeding. 

“Yeah, pumped for the team, and we will try our best,” said Hubert Hurkacz, the ATP’s World No. 10.

Still, Swiatek was ready to change it up, which of course, led to questions on her 2022 season, where she finished as the top-ranked player by a landslide. Swiatek, who finished with more than twice as many rankings points as No. 2 Ons Jabeur, was quick to admit her season went far better than she could have imagined — but was also ready to move on.

“I'm going to try to kind of cut off everything that happened last year and just focus on the future, because I feel like I can take a lot of experience from these tournaments last year,” she said, “but I don't want to really like hold on to that too much, because I want to go forward and kind of focus on my next goals.

“For sure all these press conferences are going to kind of remind me of everything, but my goal is to just focus on the future and try to improve as a tennis player.”

Sviate will hope that future involves a deep run at the United Cup, where Poland will try to battle past Kazakhstan and Switzerland in Group B.

With Swiatek and Hurkacz, as well as the leadership of former doubles World No. 1 Lukasz Kubot and co-captains Agnieszka Radwanska and Dawid Celt, Poland has plenty of experience on its side.

“We had experience before to play in the ATP Cup, now it's United Cup. I think it's a great thing, and we are going to continue this for the next years,” Kubot said. “I'm very pleased to be with the Polish team, especially right now it's a big boom in our country with tennis.”

Radwanska is familiar with mixed-teams events, having lifted the 2015 Hopman Cup trophy for her country with Jerzy Janowicz.

“I’m very happy to be part of the team. Myself, I had a great experience playing Hopman Cup for the two times and winning that event as well,” Radwanska said. “I think it's going to be a really interesting one, combined, ladies and gentlemen all together. I think it's going to be a lot of good tennis the next few days.”

Poland will need to be sharp against Kazakhstan and Switzerland, both of which have playing captains. Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka leads Switzerland, which also features WTA stars Belinda Bencic and Jil Teichmann.

“It’s always special to be in a team, especially when you represent your country,” Wawrinka said. “It's something that I want to play my best, do the best I can. Hopefully I can really help the team.”

Alexander Bublik is the playing captain for Kazakhstan. The 25-year-old is thrilled not just for the event, but to be competing in Brisbane.

“It's great to be back in Brisbane. Been here first time in [2018] when they hosted the ATP event here,” Bublik said. “It's always been great memories, one of my favourite stops in Australia. Pretty excited to play here, centre court, and have this inaugural United Cup and be part of it.”

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‘A Lot Of Good Vibes Around Here’: Team France Eyes Fast Start In Group F

Returning to the scene of past successes can be daunting, but Team France’s Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet are feeling nothing but excitement as they return to Perth to spearhead Team France’s charge at the inaugural United Cup.

The pair was part of France’s Fed Cup-winning team in 2019, a victory that was clinched with final victory against Australia in the city in Western Australia.

“Yesterday when we had our first hit on centre court with Caroline, we had a little moment of emotion coming back on this court,” said Cornet of Perth’s RAC Arena, where Team France will take on Team Croatia and Team Argentina in Group F. “It was very powerful, this team experience, and this joy of winning… So I hope this lucky charm is going to act on this team, because we have a really good team to go far in the tournament.”

Captain Edouard Roger-Vasselin has a strong team at his disposal this week, when Top 50 ATP stars Arthur Rinderknech and Adrian Mannarino join Cornet and WTA World No. 4 Caroline Garcia as their team’s singles players. Garcia reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open before lifting the biggest title of her career at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, and the 29-year-old is keen to showcase more of that form to help her team to success this week in Perth.

“I think with the format, every match and every game is important,” said Garcia. “If you cannot qualify as first one, it would be the second one, and so every match is very important for the team. But also as your personal goal, you want to keep improving, play the best you can when you're on court.”

[ATP APP]

Another player who enjoyed the biggest win of his career last season was Borna Coric, who clinched his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. The 26-year-old is the highest-ranked singles player on Team Croatia and believes the unique nature of the mixed-teams event, which will see 18 nations competing in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from 29 December to 8 January, is a motivating factor.

“I would like to see how the girls are going to be playing, how the men are going to be playing,” said Coric. “If we win, it's going to be great… [The creation of this event] is very, very important. I'm sure we going to do great, that we going to have a very, very good time. I think that's the most important as well.”

Like their Group F rivals Team France, Team Croatia possesses considerable strength-in-depth. Established WTA stars Petra Martic and Donna Vekic are both looking to build on strong showings in the 2022 season.

“You want to take the good times into the new season, build on that good feeling and good momentum,” said Martic, who lifted her second WTA Tour title in Lausanne in July. “I'm feeling pretty good. I think I was progressing last year from beginning until the end. I was playing better and better. I hope I can keep doing that in 2023.”

“I'm really happy to be in Perth, to be playing this event,” said former WTA No. 19 Vekic. “I think it's a great start of the year. We have two matches guaranteed, and hopefully we can play a couple more. Hopefully I can continue in good form from last year.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

It is not just the United Cup experience that will be new for Team Argentina this week. Former WTA star and team captain Gisela Dulko admitted most of team had only recently met for the first time, but believes that could only improve their first United Cup experience.

“We don't know each other since very long,” said Dulko. “So it's going to be our first experience. We are happy we are going to have this time to know each other, to talk, to help each other. It's going to be a good week for us.”

Team Argentina’s lead WTA singles player is Nadia Podoroska, while ATP No. 30 Francisco Cerundolo is the highest-ranked singles player in the group. Like many of his compatriots, Cerundolo admitted to being inspired by the exploits of Argentina’s men’s football team, which claimed World Cup victory in Qatar just 10 days ago.

“I think it was crazy the last 10 days and the whole month Argentina people went crazy when we started winning,” said Cerundolo. “Of course when we won the finals, the city, Buenos Aires, was unreal, people went nuts.

“Of course it inspires me, and I think the other guys, but I think it inspires the whole country, because football there, I think it's everything. It was great, great news for the country, for us… Of course we can [also] bring the cup back home.”

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Nick Kyrgios blasted by Aussies for late withdrawal from Rafael Nadal showdown

Nick Kyrgios' Australia team-mates were keen to bat away questions after his withdrawal from the United Cup.

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Australia Ready To Carry Home Hopes In Group D

With the stage set, Team Australia is determined to deliver in front of its home fans in Sydney this week at the United Cup. The home nation, led by Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic, will play Team Great Britain and Team Spain in a stacked Group D.

“I think everyone is excited to kick off the year here in Sydney,” vice-captain Samantha Stosur said on Wednesday. “We've got amazing players on this team. Alex [de Minaur] is one of the best players in the world. [Jason] Kubler has had an incredible year as well, qualifying for a couple of slams.”

The World No. 24 De Minaur will compete as the men’s No. 1 singles player at the 18-country mixed-teams event for Australia and will face Cameron Norrie and Rafael Nadal in Sydney. The 23-year-old is excited to test himself against the world’s best at the start of the season in the city he grew up in.

“For me, it's a great opportunity,” De Minaur said. “I've got two great matches. I'm playing Cameron Norrie and Nadal. It's a great test for me. I'm excited to put myself out there. It's going to be great to play on home ground, in front of friends and family, hopefully an electric atmosphere.”

[ATP APP]

Nadal enjoyed a record-breaking season last year, winning four tour-level titles, including Grand Slam trophies at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. The World No. 2, who will play his opening match on Saturday, is relishing the chance to join forces with his countrymen and women.

“It's always different when you play [as a] team," Nadal said. "We are used to playing Davis Cup or Fed Cup. It is nothing 100 per cent new, but at the same time , it's the first time that we share forces between men and women. [It is] going to be exciting.

“I think we can create a good team atmosphere, and hopefully we can start well because we know we have a very tough group.”

Paula Badosa will compete alongside Nadal in Australia. She feels the connection and camaraderie Team Spain has created will help them taste success at the event.

“I think it's very important to stick together when you play as a country,” Badosa said. “Making a good atmosphere. I think what we have in Spain is that we have very competitive players, fighters. I think we will show that from the beginning.”

Great Britain also plays in Group D, with Tim Henman captaining his nation. He believes the move to integrate the ATP and WTA Tours at the United Cup is hugely beneficial and important for the sport.

“I think it's a massive attribute to our sport to have these combined events. There are so few sports that are able to do that,” Henman said. “I'm very much looking forward to it. I think we've got a great team.”

With Norrie the highest-ranked player in Great Britain’s team at No. 14 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Henman will look to the 27-year-old to help drive his nation to victory.

“It's great playing as a team, playing for your country,” Norrie said. “Even if you come unstuck in your first match, you've got another match to play as well. You get to support some of the other teammates. I love the team events. I know everybody does. It's kind of my first-ever combined event, so I'm looking forward to watching the girls play as well.”

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United Cup Day 1 Preview: Tsitsipas Leads Greece Charge, De Minaur Carries Home Hopes

The stage is set. The 2023 season begins on Thursday in Australia, where 18 countries will battle it from 29 December-8 January to become United Cup champion.

The new mixed-teams event will see some of the biggest stars in action in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, with Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek and Stefanos Tsitsipas among those representing their countries.

Here is what to watch on Day 1 of the United Cup.

[ATP APP]

Perth
A popcorn clash between two former Nitto ATP Finals champions is the highlight of the opening day in Perth, with Greece’s Tsitsipas taking on Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in Group A. Tsitsipas earned a Tour-leading 61 wins last season, lifting trophies in Monte Carlo and Mallorca. The World No. 4 will be aiming to start the new season impressively and build on his winning record against Dimitrov, with Tsitsipas leading their ATP Head2Head series 5-1.

Greece, a nation of only six million, is the top-seeded team at the event. It’s the only country with two players ranked among the top six – World No. 6 Maria Sakkari, who is in action on Friday, and World No. 4 Tsitsipas.

“To see players come out for each other, get out their comfort zone, I think fans will enjoy it,” Tsitsipas said looking ahead to the event. “And then, guys and girls playing together is great. I think it will only help their Tour and ours. I think everybody wins.”

The other tie taking place on Day 1 in Perth will see France face Argentina in Group F. Francisco Cerundolo enjoyed a career-best season in 2022. He climbed to No. 24 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and captured his maiden tour-level crown in Bastad. The Argentine opens his year against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in what will be the first meeting between the pair.

The WTA match pits Alize Cornet against Maria Lourdes Carle. Cornet tasted success in Australia last year, reaching the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, while Argentine Carle is perched at a career-high No. 147 after a season that saw her claim her first WTA main draw victory in Hamburg.

Sydney
Alex de Minaur will look to light up Ken Rosewall Arena and make a fast start to the season on home soil when he takes on Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Group D. The Australian, who went 47-15 in 2022, leads four-time tour-level titlist Norrie 1-0 in their ATP Head2Head. Australian Zoe Hives plays Katie Swan in the other match on Day 1 of the tie.

“It's a beautiful court, a beautiful place to be. Love being back here at home,” De Minaur said. “I think it's even better to be here in a team environment, team event. We've got a great team. I think we're all just happy to be here.”

The United States will also be in action in Sydney when it takes on the Czech Republic, one of the most formidable teams on the WTA. From 2011-2018, the Czech Republic won the Billie Jean King Cup on six occasions.

The United States also has impressive pedigree in its ranks, boasting World No. 3 Jessica Pegula and World No. 11 Madison Keys. An Australian Open semi-finalist and champion in Adelaide last year, Keys has been consistent on the Australian hard courts. But coming off her best season, World No. 24 Marie Bouzkova remains a threat. The physical Czech can be a tough player to hit through and will provide a test for Keys on Day 1 in Group C.

Taylor Fritz represents his nation as the No. 1 men’s singles player. The 25-year-old, who cracked the Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time in October, will begin his season against Czech Jiri Lehecka. The 21-year-old emerged as a new star last year, reaching the semi-finals as a qualifier in Rotterdam before he soared to the title match at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals.

Brisbane
Italian Lorenzo Musetti made impressive progress in 2022, capturing two tour-level titles. Playing in Brisbane at a career-high No. 23 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, the 20-year-old will hope to fly out of the blocks against Brazil’s Felipe Meligeni Alves in Group E. In the opening match of the tie, Beatriz Haddad Maia plays Martina Trevisan. Haddad Maia was one of the breakout stars of the 2022 season, winning two titles and finishing in the Top 15 after starting the year outside the Top 80.

Belinda Bencic will spearhead Switzerland’s hopes on Day 1 when she faces Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva. This will be the sixth meeting between Bencic and Putintseva, but their first since 2020. All five of their prior meetings came on hard courts, with Putintseva holding the Head2Head edge, 3-2. Marc-Andrea Huesler, who clinched his first tour-level title in Sofia last season, plays Timofey Skatov in the opening men’s match.

Sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena

United States vs. Czech Republic (Group C)
Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Jiri Lehecka (CZE), 12 p.m.
Madison Keys (USA) vs. Marie Bouzkova (CZE), to follow

Australia vs. Great Britain (Group D)
Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs. Cameron Norrie (GB), 7 p.m.
Zoe Hives (AUS) vs. Katie Swan (GB), to follow

Perth, RAC Arena

Greece vs. Bulgaria (Group A)
Despina Papamichail (GRE) vs. Isabella Shinikova (BUL), 12 p.m.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), to follow

France vs. Argentina (Group F)
Alizé Cornet (FRA) vs. Maria Carle (ARG), 6 p.m.
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs. Francisco Cerundolo (ARG), to follow

Brisbane, Pat Rafter Arena

Italy vs. Brazil (Group E)
Martina Trevisan (ITA) vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA), 1 p.m.
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA), to follow

Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan (Group B)
Belinda Bencic (SWI) vs. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ), 7 p.m.
Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI) vs. Timofey Skatov (KAZ), to follow

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Team Bulgaria Hits Cottesloe Beach In Perth

Team Bulgaria took some time out from their United Cup preparations to visit the stunning Cottesloe Beach in Perth Tuesday.

Led by top-ranked players Grigor Dimitrov and Viktoriya Tomova, the Bulgarian team greeted local surf life savers and got competitive with some beach games. “It’s fun when we can do some social activities, especially outside of the sport. I think everybody enjoyed it,” said former world No.3 Dimitrov. “The whole team is in good spirits. We’re trying to make the most of (our time in Perth) and looking forward to the competition.”

The United Cup, a mixed-team event consisting of 18 nations, begins on 29 December with round-robin matches in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.Each United Cup tie comprises two men’s and two women’s singles matches, as well as one mixed doubles match, played across two days. Four countries then advance to the knockout stage in Sydney, which runs from 6-8 January.

Team Bulgaria begins its campaign against top seeds Greece at Perth’s RAC Arena on Thursday, with Dimitrov scheduled to face world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening session. Dimitrov is looking to improve a 1-5 win-loss record against Tsitsipas.

Visit Bulgaria's team page on unitedcup.com

“I think it’s a great match up. We’ve played a few times against each other and on quite a few occasions he got the best of me,” said Dimitrov. “But here is a different format and I have the team behind me, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Dimitrov, the playing captain for Team Bulgaria, is thrilled a mixed team event has been added to the tour schedule. “Everybody is excited. It’s a completely new format for everyone and it’s the first year, so we don’t know what to expect. But I’m very pleased we are able to team up together and make some new memories,” said the world No.28.

Tomova, the highest-ranked Bulgarian woman at world No.90, agrees. “I like it very much,” she said of the innovative new event. “Every week we play individually, so it’s great to team up with our Bulgarian team-mates and play for our country.”

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Getting In The Groove! Kyrgios, Kvitova Among Practising United Cup Stars

With just two days to go until the inaugural edition of the United Cup, some of the competitions biggest names hit the practice courts Tuesday seeking to find their rhythm ahead of their opening matches.

Nick Kyrgios was among the Team Australia stars hitting in Sydney. The 27-year-old, who will be representing his country in the city he calls home, will meet Team Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Thursday’s evening session on Ken Rosewall Arena in his first singles match in Group D. Kyrgios is part of a strong lineup for the host nation, which also features Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur.

Also putting herself through her paces in Sydney was two-time Wimbledon champion and WTA star Petra Kvitova. The 29-time tour-level titlist is part of a Team Czech Republic which takes on third-seeded Team USA in its opening tie in Group C. Kvitova will be supported by fellow WTA star Marie Bouzkova, while the Czechs’ ATP contingent is led by clean-hitting 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka.

_{^{Petra Kvitova took to the practice court on Tuesday in Sydney. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.}}

Some ATP and WTA stars took the chance to practise with teammates from the opposing Tour on Tuesday. One of them was the No. 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Hubert Hurkacz, who hit with his fellow Team Poland stars Magda Linette and Weronika Falkowsa in Brisbane.

The second-seeded Team Poland, which also features WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, takes on Team Kazakhstan in their opening Group B match across Saturday and Sunday.

_{^{Team Poland's Weronika Falkowska and Hubert Hurkacz practised together on Tuesday in Brisbane. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.}}

In Perth, Stefanos Tsitsipas enjoyed a practice session as he prepares to spearhead the top-seeded Team Greece’s title charge alongside the No. 6 in the WTA Rankings, Maria Sakkari. The current No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Tsitsipas faces Team Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in his opening singles battle at RAC Arena on Thursday. Sakkari’s opening match follows on Friday, when she meets Viktoriya Tomova in the Group A tie.

^{_{Stefanos Tsitsipas practises on Tuesday in Perth. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.}}

The United Cup will launch the 2023 season on both the ATP Tour and the WTA Tour, with 18 nations competing in six groups across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Each tie will comprise of two ATP and two WTA singles matches, and one mixed doubles match.

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Will Bonding Lead To Brilliance For Team Italy At The United Cup?

Will team bonding lead to victory at the United Cup? Team Italy hopes so after exploring Brisbane on Tuesday.

"It’s beautiful to be here and to play a new mixed-teams event,” Matteo Berrettini said. “We’re happy and excited to play, and really looking forward to starting and seeing how the new format goes. It’s going to be exciting as I’ve never even played mixed doubles."

Berrettini, Marco Bortolotti, Lucia Bronzetti, Lorenzo Musetti, Camila Rosatello, Martina Trevisan, Andrea Vavassori and captain Vincenzo Santopadre visited the New Farm Park River Hub boat dock. They spent some time on a boat and posed for photos with the city’s skyline in the background.

^{Photo Credit: Tennis Australia}
Everyone involved enjoyed the moment before the competition for the inaugural United Cup — and the season on the whole — heats up.

“We really enjoyed the boat today,” Trevisan said. “I’m very excited to be part of this team and we are looking forward to playing.”

Italy will open its tournament on Thursday against Team Brazil. Berrettini believes his team is ready.

"We are pushing each other to get better and better and achieve more,” Berrettini said. “So, when we play a team competition like the United Cup, it feels nice."

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The Best Photos Ahead Of The United Cup

^{Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic visit Sydney Harbour.}

^{Alexander Zverev hits on Tuesday in Sydney.}

^{Nick Kyrgios training on Tuesday in Sydney.}

^{Petra Kvitova trains in Sydney.}

^{Team Italy in Brisbane on Tuesday ahead of the United Cup.}

^{Jessica Pegula of Team United States and Harriet Dart of Team Great Britain hit together in Sydney.}

^{Team Australia visits Sydney Harbour.}

Photo Credit: TENNIS AUSTRALIA

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Team Australia Visits Sydney Harbour Ahead Of United Cup

Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic are among the stars leading Team Australia at the inaugural United Cup this week in Sydney. However, before play begins at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Thursday, the host nation took the opportunity to swap the practice courts for the city when they visited Campbells Cove on Tuesday.

De Minaur, Tomljanovic, Jason Kubler and Zoe Hives shared smiles and jokes before they posed for photos by the Sydney Harbour Bridge ahead of the 11-day event.

“We thrive playing for our country, representing the green and gold,” de Minaur said. “There is always a lot of passion and pride and it is a great time of the year. We are in the Aussie summer, ready to start 2023. There is no better place to be.”

“Aussies thrive in team competitions,” Tomljanovic said. “You see with the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, we made finals and I don’t think many people would have picked us to be in the last two standing.

“When I played for Australia for the first time, the camaraderie and the vibe of the team over that week was great. We see each other a lot during the year but don’t get to talk much. But when we come together it is like we have never left, so it is something in the culture.”

The United Cup, a mixed-teams event consisting of 18 nations, will be contested in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, with four countries advancing to the knockout stage in Sydney. Each United Cup tie will comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match to be played across two days, with the tournament running from 29 December-8 January.

Team Australia, spearheaded by Nick Kyrgios, will start its title quest against Team Great Britain on Thursday evening. Team Spain, led by Rafael Nadal and Paula Badosa, are also in Group D.

“It is exciting,” de Minaur said. “It is a new event in tennis. Innovating in this great sport and I think it will bring a new audience. We have a tough group, but we are happy being the underdogs. We just have to give it our all, that’s all we can ask for ourselves.”

Photo Credits: TENNIS AUSTRALIA

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Challenger Tour: Innovations, Enhancements For 2023

If you’ve never tuned into the ATP Challenger Tour, make it your new year’s resolution to watch the game’s brightest young stars this upcoming season.

One week from now, the Challenger Tour will begin its 46th year. This season, set to begin 2 January, will introduce innovations and enhancements that will strengthen the experience for players, spectators, and tournament hosts.

Key changes to this upcoming season, which were announced in September, include a projected 195 events, multi-million dollar prize money increases, and an optimised tournament calendar.

Total prize money on the Challenger Tour will rise from $13.2 million in 2022 to a record $21.1 million in 2023, an increase of 60 per cent. Round-by-round prize money distributions will improve earnings in the earlier rounds of tournaments.

Improvements will also see the Challenger Tour closely align with the ATP Tour and deliver a better balance of tournaments in both surface types and regions. The new enhancements will help create a more sustainable player pathway for more players competing on the Challenger Tour.

In addition to the four core tournament categories (50, 75, 100, 125), ATP will introduce three new premium Challenger 175 tournaments, which will be held during the second week of ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Rome, and Madrid.

[ATP APP]

“The Challenger Tour is the launchpad of men’s professional tennis,” said ATP Tour Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi. “[This] is a critical step forward for the entire ecosystem. The new plan increases earnings potential for players and improves the balance of tournament categories, surfaces and regions. It also puts a renewed focus on raising tournament standards. Our team is committed to delivering further enhancements in the coming months and years.”

The Challenger Tour season will begin with five tournaments during opening week, including events in Australia, New Caledonia, Thailand, Argentina, and Portugal.

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De Minaur Ready For Inaugural United Cup

When Alex de Minaur found out about the United Cup launching in Australia this summer, he didn’t have to think twice about signing up. “For me, there is no greater honour than to represent your country,” the World No. 24 said.

“It’s another chance, another opportunity to do everything I can to hopefully get a win for Australia. I’ll make sure I’m ready to go and ready to give it my all.”

De Minaur got an early look at conditions on Ken Rosewall Arena during a practice session under the watchful eye of Tony Roche on Friday.

Australia has landed in a strong Group D, alongside Spain and Great Britain, for the round-robin stage of the mixed team event. “It’s going to be great for us to really test ourselves and have great matches before the Australian Open,” said De Minaur, who won a career-high 47 singles matches this season. It’s going to be tough, but we like being the underdogs. Hopefully we can push each other, have each other’s backs, come out with some great tennis and do Australia proud.”

Australia performed strongly in team competitions during 2022, reaching the finals of both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup for the first time in almost three decades. De Minaur believes these results prove that Australia is a United Cup contender.

“(We have) shown how tough we are, how much it means to play for Australia and how much pride we have in representing the green and gold,” he said. “We might not have people in the top 20, but we are still out there making finals in both Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup.”

De Minaur is also thrilled that the Australian team is competing in his birth city of Sydney. “I’m looking forward to being back in Sydney, back on the courts I grew up on. It will be good to play in front of an Aussie crowd again,” said the 23-year-old.

“To get the chance to represent our country here at home in Australia is going to be great. It would obviously mean a lot if we can do some damage and take home the title, especially in front of our home crowd.”

De Minaur admits there are some nerves about the prospect of playing mixed doubles. “That would definitely be a new thing for me. I’d be potentially making my debut on the mixed doubles court,” he explained. “Who knows if that will happen? We’ve got a lot of great options on the team, so we’ll keep our opponents guessing until the last second.”

Regardless of whether he is selected to play mixed doubles or not, De Minaur is excited to join Australia’s top-ranked women in a team environment for the first time.

“It should be a lot of fun,” he said. “Us Aussies tend to stick together throughout the year anyway. This will be an even bigger chance for us to have each other’s backs and really be a tight-knit group. I think that’s the whole basis for a team to do well, so we’ll definitely be very strong in the team chemistry aspect.”

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Dog Days Of Winter: Shapovalov Fosters Furry Friend During Holidays

Denis Shapovalov spent his preseason training with one extra-special team member, fostering a dog named Merlin from the Humane Society of Manatee County.

The Canadian is a strong supporter of the HSMC shelter through his initiative Shapo Shelter, which helps bring awareness to shelter animals in need of good homes. Shapovalov often visits HSMC when he’s in Bradenton to visit with the animals they’ve rescued and show his support to all the staff for the amazing work they do, with many cats and dogs available for adoption.

[ATP APP]

Merlin, who has been at the shelter for over a year, was able to take a break from stressful shelter life and enjoy some time with Shapovalov, his girlfriend Mirjam Bjorklund and the rest of Team Shapo while the World No. 18 got ready for the 2023 season.

“Merlin is one of the most well-behaved dogs I’ve seen, way better than my dogs in Toronto," said Shapovalov. "He’s learns really quickly too — like we told him to go up and down the stairs slowly, and so he’s been doing that. We have cameras inside the house and he just stays by the door and waits for us. He’s also just been a shadow for us. He follows us around and seems like he just wants to please us. We really love him and are hoping he finds his forever home soon!” 

Shapovalov also did a fundraiser on Cameo, doing video shoutouts for fans and raising over $2,500 that will go directly to the HSMC to support the great work they do all year.

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ATP Challenger Tour: Five Moments To Remember From 2022

The ATP Challenger Tour held no shortage of historic moments this season. From crowning champions who went on to showcase their talent at the season’s most prestigious events, to Argentina’s record-setting 23 titles, or Li Tu’s emotional victory in Seoul.

As the 2023 season approaches, ATPTour.com reviews five memorable moments from the ATP Challenger Tour this year.

ATP Tour and Challenger Tour Champions
Six players, including Borna Coric and Holger Rune, claimed titles on the Challenger Tour and at a Tour-level tournament.

Coric, who won the Parma Challenger in June, upset three Top-10 players en route to winning the title in Cincinnati to become the first player since 1993 to win a Challenger and an ATP Masters 1000 title in the same season. And then it was the Danish teen’s turn in Bercy.

Rune, 19, claimed the Sanremo Challenger in April before rising to three Tour-level titles, including the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris.

Four other men were also crowned champions at both levels: Yoshihito Nishioka, Marc-Andrea Huesler, Francisco Cerundolo, and Lorenzo Musetti.

Lorenzo Musetti is crowned champion at the 2022 Forli-6 Challenger. Credit: Riccardo Lolli

Argentina’s Record-Setting 23 Titles
Heading into this season, the previous record for most Challengers by a single country in a season, 20, had been reached four times (France in 2005, Argentina in 2007, 2016, 2021). After tying the record for a third time in 2021, Argentine players set their sights on attempting to stand alone at the top of the Challenger Tour record books. After breaking the record in late October, Argentine players added two more trophies and finished with 23 Challenger titles in 2022.

Pedro Cachin, 27, held a season-leading four Challenger titles (tied w/ Jack Draper) and was the only Argentine who captured more than two titles this season. Cachin, World No. 57, won titles in Madrid, Prague, Todi, and Santo Domingo.

“Most Challenger titles in a year is incredible.” Cachin said. “It's amazing to have such an opportunity for all the players to be a part of something special like that. It is not easy for our players to travel the world, going very far from home, but to have this achievement makes it all worth it.

Pedro Cachin in action at the Santo Domingo Challenger final. Credit: David A. Martinez

“Especially for the younger guys, to see that Argentina has the ability and potential to win many titles. Hopefully this will increase the enthusiasm of players from Argentina to play this great sport. For us, it is a privilege to be a part of this great moment. The guys have worked hard and their talent is now showing.”

Li Tu Dedicates Challenger Title To His Late Mother
The Australian’s journey to the ATP Challenger Tour has been a unique trek. In 2014, Tu was finding success at the junior level, but the-then 18-year-old decided to put his racquets away to pursue a college degree and a coaching business, resulting in a six-year hiatus from professional tennis.

If it wasn’t for Tu’s close friend having a heart-to-heart conversation with him two years ago, he may have never returned to professional tennis and enjoyed the success he’s found this year.

After suffering the loss of his mother in September, Tu travelled to South Korea the day after her funeral. Little did he know what the Korean Challenger swing had in store for him.

Li Tu wins the 2022 Seoul Challenger. Credit: Do Won Kim

At the Seoul Challenger, which was Tu’s seventh Challenger appearance, the 26-year-old advanced through qualifying en route to his maiden title. Tu dedicated the victory to his mother, who would’ve celebrated her birthday the day after his title.

Shang Juncheng Rescues Ballkid
The Chinese teen and American Stefan Dostanic were locked in a three-set battle in scorching temperatures in the American state of Kentucky when Shang noticed a ballkid, Atharva Dang, in distress.

After asking Atharva if he was okay, Shang exclaimed, “He’s going to faint!” Immediately, Shang set his racquet down and assisted the overheated boy, lifting him into his arms and rushing him behind the umpire’s chair and out of the direct sunlight. After setting him down in the shade, Shang gave a bottle of water to Atharva and placed an ice-pack behind his head.

Shang Juncheng and ballkid Atharva Dang at the Lexington Challenger. Credit: Rena Behr

The day after that moment of sportsmanship, Shang and the ballkid reunited for a picture. While Dang competed in a local tournament that weekend, the Beijing native was crowned champion at the Lexington Challenger. Shang became the youngest player to win a Challenger title since Carlos Alcaraz at Alicante in 2020 and the youngest Chinese champion in Challenger Tour history.

Shelbayh Secures History
At the Rafa Nadal Open by Sotheby’s, 18-year-old Abdullah Shelbayh became the first player from Jordan to win a match in ATP Challenger Tour history.

“It’s surreal,” Shelbayh said following his victory over top-seeded Dominic Stricker. “To do something for your country is a big achievement. I come from a small country where tennis is not a big sport and to do that, it means a lot to me to be in the history of my country. I actually never thought about that entering the match, but it feels amazing. I hope many players from Jordan show their talent in the near future and I can inspire them as much as possible.”

Abdullah Shelbayh celebrates his first Challenger Tour win. Credit: Alvaro Diaz/Rafa Nadal Academy

Although his first Challenger win came far from his Jordan home, it was only fitting it came at the Rafa Nadal Academy, where Shelbayh has trained since he was 14-years-old.

The Academy graduate was a semi-finalist at the Mallorca Challenger, where he lost to Zizou Bergs.

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Coaches' Corner: Swinnen Says Stricker Should Take 'One Step At A Time'

Sven Swinnen still remembers the first time he watched Dominic Stricker play. The lefty, who was 14 at the time, visited the Swiss Tennis Academy in Biel, Switzerland. Not to put any pressure on the juniors training there with big dreams, the facility is located on Roger-Federer-Allee.

“He was hitting the ball already pretty clean. He had the ball nicely on his racquet already at a young age,” Swinnen told ATPTour.com. “Obviously maybe his footwork wasn’t the best yet. He still can improve on that today. But slowly it’s getting better and better.”

Stricker was just visiting for a couple days of practice at the country’s national training centre. Six years later he is 20 years old, and Swinnen is his full-time coach. The lefty is on the rise.

Stricker finished his 2022 season playing some of the best tennis of his career, winning a main-draw match at the ATP 250 in Antwerp and another at the ATP 500 in Basel, his home event. Then he shone at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, defeating Jack Draper, Lorenzo Musetti and Chun-Hsin Tseng in round-robin play before falling in the semi-finals.

“We try to take one step at a time. Now obviously he’s close to the Top 100, so the next goal if you talk rankings-wise will be to get a spot in the Top 100 and try to keep it for some time,” Swinnen said of his charge, who is No. 118 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. “Don’t get too caught up in trying to get points or think too much about points, try to keep working on the things you have to improve on court and then all the stuff will come automatically.”

^{Photo Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour}
Swinnen is plenty familiar with young Swiss players with big prospects. The former University of Oregon student-athlete grew up with Roger Federer.

“We’ll always say a little bit the same to the young kids,” Swinnen said. “Everybody goes his own path, focus on that, focus on improving and it’s just great to have somebody like Roger that we have in Switzerland. That will also motivate them maybe to play.

“They get to know him, also. Dominic played a couple of times with him, so that was also good.”

In 2021, Stricker relayed to the media a story about how during their training together, Federer discussed the importance of the serve with his younger countryman. That shot has become one of Stricker’s biggest weapons.

According to Swinnen, it has been important to continue developing that strength.

“Sometimes you want to keep trying to improve the weaknesses, but I also like to put focus on his strengths. Keep improving his serve,” Swinnen said. “He’s serving already pretty good, that’s a big weapon of his, his serve, for his height. Keep improving on those and then there are plenty of things he can improve on.”

Judging by the end of 2022, fans will increasingly become familiar with that shot, too. In Milan, Stricker showed no fear of a big stage at the Allianz Cloud. Swinner added that opportunities like that will only help his player grow.

“Everybody’s dreaming about those stages, those big tournaments. That’s why you practise. That’s what all the young kids dream about, to play those big events,” Swinnen said. “Suddenly if you get closer, you really want to try to get there. I hope he keeps his focus, keeps practising hard and hopefully he can play more and more of those events.”

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