Top players from Russia and Belarus will be banned from a lucrative new mixed-gender tennis tournament, starting in late December and launching the Australian summer.
In a throwback to the Hopman Cup – the popular former event held in Perth over the New Year’s period for 30 years until 2019 – the 18-nation United Cup will be staged across three cities and kick-start top-level tennis down under.
Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev.Credit:AP
But the first instalment of the event – run under a partnership between Tennis Australia and the ATP and WTA tours – will be without players of the calibre of Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, and former women’s world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, due to the sport’s crackdown on players from those countries over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The intersection between sport and politics has been impossible to ignore in tennis in 2022 after Russia and Belarus were banned from the time-honoured men’s and women’s teams events, the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Furthermore, the All-England Club went out alone by banning individual Russians and Belarusians from the Wimbledon, prompting the tours to strip the grass-court major of rankings points.
While Russia and Belarus will be ineligible to take their spots in the United Cup – played over 11 days and offering more than $23 million in prize money – individual players such as this year’s Australian Open men’s finalist Medvedev and two-time women’s champion Victoria Azarenka will be free to compete at Melbourne Park in January.
Under qualification criteria for the United Cup – which replaces the men’s only ATP Cup, which lasted for only three years – the first 12 countries to qualify will be based on the six highest-ranked players on both the ATP and WTA tours.
On current rankings, nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic would ensure qualification for Serbia at Russia’s expense. But the former world No.1’s ability to even enter Australia remains unclear as he remains under a three-year visa ban.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek will ensure Poland’s qualification, while Tunisia will earn a spot thanks to the form of Ons Jabeur, the Wimbledon finalist and current world No.2.
On the men’s side, there’s the potential for Spain’s champion veteran Rafael Nadal to star alongside youngster Carlos Alcaraz, the US Open champion and new world No.1. With countrywoman Paula Badosa among the WTA top 10, the presence of those three would virtually ensure favouritism for Spain. Hot competition could come from Greek stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, both currently in the world’s top five.
Australia could yet have a mixed doubles pairing of Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljanovic, finalists and quarter-finals respectively at Wimbledon.
Women’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek.Credit:Getty Images
The first draw to determine where the top 16 countries will play is on November 10. A second draw will be held two weeks later to determine the final two countries.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley had already confirmed that Russian and Belarusian players were free to compete as individuals in Australia. Their ban from Wimbledon, however, came amid considerable controversy.
“Like every other player they will have to go through a [visa] application process,” Tiley said this month.
“The only difference would be that they cannot represent Russia, they cannot represent the flag of Russia, and they can’t participate in any activity such as [playing] the anthem of Russia, and have to play as independent players under a neutral [country] name.
“But they will be welcome to the Australian Open in January.”
Tiley also had said Tennis Australia was yet to experience any pushback – either from players, or the ATP and WTA tours – to the requirement for players from Russia or Belarus to maintain neutral status at Melbourne Park in January.
The United Cup will be staged between December 29 and January 9 with group ties, comprised of two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match, to be played in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
Under the round-robin format, each city will host two of the three-nation groups with the group winners playing off and advancing, with the next best-performed nation, to the semi-finals stage, held in the NSW capital.
ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said the new event was a watershed.
“The United Cup marks a major step forward for the game of tennis,” Gaudenzi said.
“We’re excited to see the best men’s and women’s players competing together, with ranking points on the line, to launch the season like never before.”
