Three things to look out for at the United Cup 2026
• 3 minute read
The United Cup is the first stop on the WTA and ATP calendars in 2026 – bringing together some of the biggest names in the sport to represent their nations in a team competition.
Great Britain – led by Captain Tim Henman – have been drawn in Group E in Perth against Japan and Greece on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 January.
With British women's singles No.1 Emma Raducanu, women's doubles No.1 Olivia Nicholls and former men's doubles world No.1 Neal Skupski set for this year’s line-up, the Brits will be hoping to push into the final stages of the tournament and compete for the title.
We breakdown three things to look out for at the 2026 United Cup:
Emma Raducanu’s United Cup debut
Raducanu will start her season at the United Cup for the first time in her career.
The British No.1 was one of the first players to commit to the United Cup this year and is coming off the back of arguably the most solid and consistent season of her career so far.
Raducanu has always produced stellar performances for her country and knows a thing or two about competing in big game atmospheres. The 23-year-old holds a 6-1 winning record in the Billie Jean King Cup, including five straight wins in 2024.
Raducanu will need to be at her best with some tough matchups in the group stage. She will start off against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. The two faced each other for the first time at the Citi Open this year, where Raducanu came through in straight sets to reach the semi-final.
The Briton will then face a familiar opponent in former world No.3 Maria Sakkari. Raducanu beat Sakkari en route to her US Open title in 2021 and has defeated the Greek on all three of their previous meetings.
Who can challenge USA’s dominance?
USA are the team to beat at the United Cup, having one two of the three previous editions of the competition.
Last season, Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz defeated Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz in two singles matches to give USA a 2-0 win over Poland in the final.
Gauff and Fritz are back once again this year to defend their title, but will once again be faced with stiff competition across the draw.
USA are in Group A, which will take place in Perth. Should they win their tough group against Spain and Argentina they would have to play the best runner-up from either Groups A, C or E, which includes Great Britain, but also, Italy.
Italy will be seen as one of the main contenders at this year’s United Cup, coming off the back of a season where the national teams won both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup. Their team includes two-time Grand Slam runner-up Jasmine Paolini and 23-year-old, world No.22 Flavio Cobolli.
Swiatek and Hurkacz will be aiming to take Poland to a third straight final as one of the most experienced duos in the tournament. Germany will be ones to watch with Alexander Zverev and Eva Lys, Canada look strong with the resurgent Felix Auger-Aliassime and rising star Victoria Mboko, and home favourites Australia will have Alex de Minaur and Maya Joint.
Experienced British duo set to join forces
British doubles has arguably never been in a better place and this year’s United Cup could see former Wimbledon champion, Skupski, and this year's Indian Wells runner-up, Nicholls, combine for the first time.
Skupski is one of five British players ranked in the ATP doubles top 10, having made the final of Roland Garros, US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals in 2025.
Nicholls on the other hand broke into the WTA top 30 this season, won her biggest title in Berlin and made the Indian Wells final.
Both bring plenty of mixed doubles experience as well. Skupski has lifted the Wimbledon mixed doubles title twice in 2021 and 2022, and has made finals in Melbourne and Paris. Meanwhile, Nicholls has made the semi-finals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.
Should they be called upon, Skupski and Nicholls will be one of the strongest doubles teams in the competition, which could be crucial in any close ties.
