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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.”

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Team USA has reason to feel confident on the eve of the United Cup. The Americans have sent a team to Sydney that sees No.11 Madison Keys and No.19 Frances Tiafoe as their No.2 singles players behind No.3 Jessica Pegula and No.9 Taylor Fritz. In fact, the Americans are the only team in the entire 18-team competition to boast a total of four Top 20 players.

"I think we have a great team," Tiafoe told reporters on Media Day. "Hopefully we can win it. Hopefully Taylor, Jess and Madi can carry me. It's easy to compete when it's not about you."

The United States is the top seed in Group C, which also features a Petra Kvitova-led Czech Republic, and Germany.

"I think it's an interesting group, especially with the United States," said Germany's captain Mischa Zverev. "They have very strong male and female players who have performed well over the last months.

"I don't want to say we're not the favorites, because we have a very strong team, but I think it will be very important to use all our little tricks to win those games. I don't want to say winning ugly is important, but in a team, you have to use everything you can to distract the other player, in a fair manner of course, but use your strength and win those ties."

Rafael Nadal said that he is raring to go at the start of the season as he prepares to spearhead Team Spain’s United Cup title quest in Sydney. The 36-year-old will represent his nation at the new 18-country mixed-teams event, held in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from 29 December-8 January.

“Always the beginning of the season is exciting,” Nadal said in Spain’s pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. “For everybody [it] is a new thing, all the doubts, how things [are] going to go. Even if I don't know how many seasons I have on the Tour, beginnings are always different.

“[I have the] highest motivation to try to start well. It's always important to start well for me, for the confidence. [The] past few months haven't been easy for me. I just try to have the right practice here before the tournament starts. Then of course, try to help the team. [The] main thing for me now is [to] recover the positive feelings on court, being competitive. I hope to. I am ready to make that happen, but let's see.”

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Nadal enjoyed another historic season in 2022, winning four tour-level titles. The 36-year-old, who earned a 39-8 record on the year, tasted success on Australian soil 12 months ago, winning an ATP 250 title in Melbourne before he captured his second Australian Open crown.

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.

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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.

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

The ATP Tour announced today a new partnership with PacificPine Sports (PPS) to create a range of world-class ATP-licensed tennis centres in China and Hong Kong.

The multi-year partnership, which begins in 2023, is an exciting opportunity for the ATP to engage with junior tennis players and young fans locally, expand opportunities in the sport, and for ATP Coach members to share their expert knowledge with players in a fast-growing region.

"We are thrilled to partner with PacificPine Sports to accelerate opportunities and share our expertise in Asia,” said Daniele Sano, ATP Tour Chief Business Officer. "This partnership will allow us to connect with aspiring players and passionate fans in an important market.”

The centres, which will be run by PPS, will offer members and local staff access to ATP Coaches, Alumni and Medical Services Team. PPS will have rights to use ATP Tour brand marks in promotional, advertising and marketing materials.

Daniele Sano, ATP Tour Chief Business Officer with Raymond Roessel, Founder & Co-CEO at PacificPine Sports Group.

With just two days to go until the inaugural edition of the United Cup, some of the competition's 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 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.

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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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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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!” 

Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who has worked with stars including Serena Williams and Simona Halep, recalls meeting Holger Rune when the Dane was 13. His first impression of Rune’s game was that he was an all-court player with no strokes that stood out.

“The fact that he was doing so well in terms of results got my interest because there is always a reason for that,” Mouratoglou, who is Rune's coach alongside Lars Christensen, told ATPTour.com. “I remember seeing him play points with guys and I thought ‘Oh, okay. I get it now.’

That ‘it’ was not related to technique or his strokes at all. It was an intangible.

“Some guys have this competitiveness that is at another level. They are able to play their best when it’s important,” Mouratoglou said. “They’re able to feel the moment when the guy is more stressed on the other side and keep the ball in the court and let the guy make the mistakes. Feel when is the moment to push and accelerate.”

Mouratoglou remembers discussing that with Rune and his team, including Christensen and mother Aneke Rune. His passion stood out.

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.

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.”

ATPTour.com’s annual season-in-review series looks back at 2022’s best matches, biggest upsets, most dramatic comebacks and more. Today, we recap some of the most notable player retirements from the year.

From Juan Martin del Potro's Buenos Aires farewell in February to Roger Federer's Laver Cup send-off in September, the 2022 ATP Tour season saw the close of many storied careers. Some players bowed out on home soil, while others saved their final outing for the Grand Slam stage.

Former Top 5 stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kevin Anderson and Tommy Robredo were among those to sign off this season, along with former doubles World No. 2 Bruno Soares. ATPTour.com looks at the careers of all those men and more who called time on their playing careers this year.

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Philipp Kohlschreiber (Career High: No. 6 singles)
“I really didn’t plan to announce it… It was just that day I felt, ‘OK, it’s time.’”

As someone who knows what it takes to reach the top of the game, Queensland tennis legend Patrick Rafter is in no doubt about the level WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek will bring to Brisbane for the inaugural United Cup.

“Swiatek is a great player,” said Rafter of the three-time Grand Slam champion and Team Poland star on Sunday during a visit to Pat Rafter Arena, the venue which bears his name and is set to host group-stage action at the new mixed teams event. “I saw [her play] a lot because I watched a lot of Ash [Barty] playing. So whenever I watched Ash as well, they were coming up against each other, and she's had a really great year.

“She's got a lot of smarts about her, she's one of those girls that I thought had that sort of X element part of the game and by all accounts is a really lovely girl as well. I know Ash is a really big fan of hers, so she'll be great to have here.”

World No. 12 Belinda Bencic and No. 15 Beatriz Haddad Maia are among the other WTA stars representing their countries from 29 December to 4 January in Brisbane, where they will be joined by some heavy-hitters from the ATP Tour. ATP World No. 3 Casper Ruud, No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz, No. 16 Matteo Berrettini and 2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka will all hope to help their respective nations qualify for the United Cup Final Four, to be held in Sydney from 6-8 January.

“Ruud [is here], Hurkacz is here, Berrettini, you've got some really strong players here,” said Rafter. “But you're also going to see some fresh faces and names that you might not know who are actually very, very good players too, and probably the next up-and-comers. So this will be a pretty exciting tournament.”

Roger Federer retired earlier this year following the Laver Cup. But the Swiss legend is still giving back to the fans.

Federer loaned his kit and shoes from the final match of his career to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, where fans can see it. The outfit and an autographed copy of his retirement letter are on display in the museum.

“This addition to the International Tennis Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to the final chapter in a defining career," said International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin. “We are tremendously grateful to Roger for this generous loan, and for valuing our mission to preserve tennis history as it happens. The ITHF congratulates Roger on all his achievements, the example he has set for everyone in the sport, and for his dedication to the sport’s history. We know this exhibit will inspire countless fans and visitors.”

There are several items relating to Federer in the museum, one of which is a hologram experience that bears his likeness.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is home to the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, an ATP 250 event that in 2023 will be played from 17-23 July.

ATPTour.com’s annual season-in-review series looks back at 2022’s best matches, biggest upsets, most dramatic comebacks and more. Today, we feature the first-time ATP Tour title winners of the season.

Securing a match win on the ATP Tour is hard enough, but stringing together a series of back-to-back victories across a single week to lift a trophy requires even greater technical consistency, physical discipline and mental focus.

This year, 12 players managed that feat for the first time, hitting a milestone that will forever stand out in the context of their careers. As part of our annual season-in-review series, ATPTour.com reflects on the lineup of stars who clinched their maiden ATP Tour title in 2022.

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Thanasi Kokkinakis, Adelaide
Kokkinakis clinched an emotional victory in his hometown at the Adelaide International 2 in January, a reward for the Australian’s commitment and hard work after a series of devastating injuries. His run at the ATP 250 event included hard-fought three-set wins against three of the biggest servers on Tour in John Isner, Marin Cilic and Arthur Rinderknech.