United Cup confirmed: mixed-gender team competition to lead into Australian Open

Each squad will include up to four women and up to four men at the event, which will take place across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from Dec. 29, 2022 to Jan. 8, 2023.



NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 24:  Maria Sakkari of Greece and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece react after a point against Katarina Zavatska of Ukraine and Matteo Berrettini of Italy during the Tennis Plays for Peace Ukrainian humanitarian relief event at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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SYDNEY (AP) — A new team competition with $15 million in prize money will open the 2023 tennis season ahead of the Australian Open.

Tennis Australia announced the formation of the United Cup on Friday (Thursday ET), saying it will involve women and men from 18 countries competing from Dec. 29 to Jan. 8. Matches will be played in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

Each squad will include up to four women and up to four men at the event, which will have 500 WTA and 500 ATP rankings points available.

Each contest will include four matches in singles—two between women and two between men—and one in mixed doubles.

Australia is guaranteed a spot in the field; other nations will qualify based on WTA and ATP rankings.

The season's first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, begins at Melbourne Park on Jan. 16.