Carlos Alcaraz set for Hopman Cup, but how does the mixed-team event work and who else will play?

Shahida Jacobs
Carlos Alcaraz during a match
Carlos Alcaraz in action

Just days after his sensational Wimbledon title run, Carlos Alcaraz will return to action at the Hopman Cup and organisers will hope he will give the revamped event a boost.

Alcaraz is currently the hottest property in tennis after he became the first man to beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon since 2017, defeating the seven-time champion in five titanic sets to win his first trophy at SW19 and his second Grand Slam following his US Open success last year.

While many top players prefer to rest after an arduous two-week major campaign, especially those who end up winning the title, Alcaraz is going against the grain as he will compete at the Hopman Cup in Nice, France, from July 19-23.

The world No 1 is the highest-profile player in the tournament and will represent Spain alongside Rebeka Masarova. He was initially due to partner Paula Badosa, but the former world No 2 is still struggling with a stress fracture in her back and opted to withdraw.

Alcaraz will fly to the south-eastern coast of France on Thursday and he won’t be accompanied by his usual team as only his father, Carlos Alcaraz senior, his agent Albert Molina and the physiotherapist Sergio Hernandez will join him in Nice with the rest of the team taking a break.

Alcaraz and Masarova will start their campaign on Friday.

But what is the Hopman Cup?

Although the Hopman Cup – named after seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion and 16-time Davis Cup-winning captain and coach Harry Hopman – is part of the ATP and WTA calendars, it is an exhibition tournament with no ranking points on offer for the players.

It is a mixed tournament that was first introduced in 1989 and took place in Australia to mark the start of the new season.

However, tennis authorities decided to cancel the event and the final editions in its original guise took place in 2019 with Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic steering Switzerland to a fourth and final title.

Many lamented the disappearance of the popular tournament from the calendar and it wasn’t long before it made a comeback as it was added to the 2023 season, but with a few changes.

It will now take place mid-season and was moved from Australia to Nice, France.

How does the tournament work?

It is a six-team event with one ATP Tour player and one WTA Tour player representing their country. The six teams are divided into two groups.

Each country will play the other two nations in the group with a men’s singles match, a women’s singles match and a doubles match deciding the outcome of each tie.

The winners of each group will then play each other in the final.

What about the teams and players?

Besides Spain, Belgium and Croatia are the other two countries in Group 2 while Group 1 features Denmark, Switzerland and France.

As already mentioned, Carlos Alcaraz and Rebeka Masarova represent Spain while Elise Mertens and David Goffin will fly the Belgian flag and Borna Coric and Donna Vekic lead the way for Croatia.

Denmark features world No 6 Holger Rune and Clara Tauson while Celine Naef and Leandro Riedi represent Switzerland. Belinda Bencic was initially part of the Swiss team, but she withdrew. Hosts France have Alize Cornet and Richard Gasquet in their ranks.

READ MORE: Carlos Alcaraz’s 2023 tennis schedule: Where is the Wimbledon champion playing next…

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