The 2025 ATP Tour season begins on Friday in Perth with the United Cup. The mixed teams event is once again taking place across two cities: Sydney, where the action begins Saturday, and Perth.
Four of the players who competed in each of the recent Nitto ATP Finals and WTA Finals lead the way in representing their country with 18 teams chasing the trophy. Later in the week, we will preview the Brisbane and Hong Kong ATP 250 events. But first, ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at the third edition of the United Cup.
Learn more about the event at UnitedCup.com
1) Germany defending champions: One year ago, Alexander Zverev led Germany to glory in the second edition of the United Cup. Will the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings do it again? The defending champions begin their event in Perth this year and Laura Siegemund, who played a critical role in mixed doubles last edition, is also the country’s top women’s singles player for the event.
2) Polish power: Poland held two championship points in the 2024 United Cup, but ultimately fell just short in a thrilling final against Germany. Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek are back again to try to secure the trophy.
It is the third consecutive year in which they have represented their country in the event and they have advanced to at least the semi-finals each time. Hurkacz will try to make a quick start to his season after beginning a new partnership with coaches Ivan Lendl and Nicolas Massu. Massu is with Hurkacz in Sydney.
3) Fritz joined by Gauff in pursuit of second title: The United States won the inaugural United Cup in 2023. The man who helped lead his country to the victory, Taylor Fritz, is fresh off the best season of his career, having recently made the championship match at the Nitto ATP Finals. Coco Gauff is competing in the United Cup for the first time and will join Fritz in the United States’ efforts.
4) De Minaur leads home hopes: Australian Alex de Minaur enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024, qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. He will try to take his first step towards an even better 2025 when he leads his country at the United Cup once again.
De Minaur is plenty comfortable in Sydney at Ken Rosewall Arena, where he lifted his first ATP Tour trophy in 2019. At last season's United Cup, De Minaur earned three Top 10 victories, including a triumph against Novak Djokovic. The No. 1 Australian woman on Lleyton Hewitt’s team is Olivia Gadecki and Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez could prove critical in mixed doubles.
5) Ruud, Tsitsipas among ATP stars to watch: Ruud had a resurgent 2024, returning to the Nitto ATP Finals. The Norwegian is trying to help his team to success at the United Cup for the second consecutive year after winning its group last year in Sydney.
Stefanos Tsitsipas headlines the Greek team with WTA star Maria Sakkari once again. Two years ago the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion went 4-0 in singles at the United Cup. Will he be able to replicate that success once again?
Ugo Humbert, fresh off a breakout 2024 in which he made his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Paris, leads France and the rising Italian Flavio Cobolli headlines his country’s team alongside Top 10 WTA player Jasmine Paolini.
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