Australia’s biggest tennis stars are claiming underdog status in the inaugural United Cup, while also backing a natural passion for team events to again lift the home nation against more fancied rivals.
No.2 men’s seed Alex de Minaur and leading women’s player Ajla Tomljanovic were on hand to launch Australia’s campaign in the 18-team, mixed gender competition, which begins on Thursday against Great Britain.
Star attraction Nick Kyrgios is slated to take on Britain’s world No.14 Cameron Norrie and renew his rivalry with Rafael Nadal after Australia were drawn in a tough Sydney group.
With Australia granted a berth as host nation and Greece, Poland, the US, Spain, Italy and France handed top six seedings, de Minaur was quick to dub Team Australia tournament underdogs.
But with surprise runs to the finals of both the men’s Davis Cup and the women’s Billie Jean King Cup, de Minaur and Tomljanovic believe Australia have an advantage in team events for what is usually an individual sport.
“I think Aussies thrive in team competition,” Tomljanovic said.
“You saw with the Billie Jean Cup and the Davis Cup, we made the finals and I don’t think many people would have picked us to be the last two standing. So for us, the more the merrier.
“I know that when I was part of Team Australia for the first time, that’s the one thing I really felt that stood out to me – the camaraderie and the vibe of the team for that week.
“We see each other throughout the year and don’t get to talk too much but when we come together for that one week, it’s like we never really left. There’s definitely something in the culture.”
Australia’s co-captain Sam Stosur has already flagged that same green-and-gold environment bringing the best out of Kyrgios as his Davis Cup exile continues.
Jason Kubler, Zoe Hives, Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic launch Australia’s United Cup campaign.Credit:Steven Siewert
As a playing captain, Stosur is eligible to play in the mixed doubles matches that round out each tie after a pair of men’s and women’s singles matches.
Headlines have played up the prospect of Kyrgios and former girlfriend Tomljanovic being reunited on-court as a mixed doubles pairing, but Australia are expected to partner De Minaur and Tomljanovic together while Kyrgios teams up with Zoe Hives.
Tomljanovic will be out “to get my revenge” if she faces Great Britain’s Harriet Dart, as expected, after being upset by the world No.98 in the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals.
With a career-high ranking of No.33, Stosur said Tomljanovic’s game is more complete than ever after a breakthrough 2022 campaign that featured quarter-final appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open.
“She’s held that level from start to finish and got better, I’m watching her and fully believe she’s going to get through a situation,” Stosur told the Herald and The Age.
“Her self-belief is so much better now watching her play than it may have been in times in the past when unforced errors would sneak in or a loss in concentration.
“She’s really eliminated all of that from her game this year. Hopefully, in the next month or so, she can take that next step to get inside the 32 and really kick on again.”
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