United Cup: What to expect on Day One – 29 December 2022
An 18-nation mixed team extravaganza, the United Cup will start the 2023 season on Thursday 29 December 2022.
The event takes place in the three Australian cities of Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.
Sydney
When Alex de Minaur faces off against Cameron Norrie of Great Britain in Group D, he will want to ignite Ken Rosewall Arena and get the season off to a quick start on home soil.
The four-time tour-level champion Norrie is trailing the Australian, who went 47-15 in 2022, 1-0 in their head-to-head matchup.
On Day 1 of the competition, Britain’s Katie Swan will face Australian Zoe Hives in the other match.
“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.”
Also in Sydney, The United States take on the Czech Republic with Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys in action against Jiri Lehecka and Marie Bouzkova.
Perth
Perth plays host to perhaps the biggest men’s singles match of the opening day which sees Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas take on Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov.
“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.”
France also take on Argentina on Australia’s west coast.
Brisbane
Italian Lorenzo Musetti advanced substantially in 2022, winning two titles on the professional tour. The 20-year-old, who is competing in Brisbane at a career-high No. 23 in the ATP Rankings, will look to get off to a fast start against Felipe Meligeni Alves of Brazil in Group E. Martina Trevisan opposes Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first game of the tie. Haddad Maia, who began the year outside the Top 80, became one of the season’s breakout stars in 2022, winning two titles and breaking into the Top 15.
The aspirations of Switzerland will be led by Belinda Bencic when she takes on Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan on Day 1. Bencic and Putintseva will meet for the sixth time, although it will be the first time since 2020. Hard courts served as the venue for all five of their previous encounters, with Putintseva owning a 3-2 Head to Head advantage. In the first men’s match, Marc-Andrea Huesler takes against Timofey Skatov. Last season, in Sofia, he won his first tour-level championship.
United Cup matches 29 December 2022
Sydney, Ken Rosewall Arena
United States vs. Czech Republic (Group C)
Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Jiri Lehecka (CZE), 01:00 (GMT)
Madison Keys (USA) vs. Marie Bouzkova (CZE), to follow
Australia vs. Great Britain (Group D)
Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs. Cameron Norrie (GB), 08:00 (GMT)
Zoe Hives (AUS) vs. Katie Swan (GB), to follow
Perth, RAC Arena
Greece vs. Bulgaria (Group A)
Despina Papamichail (GRE) vs. Isabella Shinikova (BUL), 04:00
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), to follow
France vs. Argentina (Group F)
Alizé Cornet (FRA) vs. Maria Carle (ARG), 10:00
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), 03:00
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. Felipe Meligeni Alves (BRA), to follow
Switzerland vs. Kazakhstan (Group B)
Belinda Bencic (SWI) vs. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ), 09:00
Marc-Andrea Huesler (SWI) vs. Timofey Skatov (KAZ), to follow.
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