Nick Kyrgios is on course for a clash against Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon semi-final that never was after Australia were drawn in a mouth-watering group for the inaugural United Cup later this year.
Kyrgios, who received a walkover into his first grand slam final after Nadal withdrew due to an abdominal injury at the All England Club this year, has been given the perfect Australian Open tune-up with a tough group for the mixed-gender event.
Australia were drawn in a pool with the Nadal-led Spain and Great Britain for the United Cup, with the group matches to be played at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Kyrgios will join Alex de Minaur to spearhead an Australian team featuring three-time slam quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanović for the $23 million event, which will also feature round-robin matches in Brisbane and Perth.
Kyrgios will be pitted against Nadal in one of two men’s singles matches if he can maintain his ranking as the top Australian before Christmas.
Kyrgios is currently No.22 in the world and just two spots ahead of de Minaur, who has the chance to leapfrog Kyrgios on the standings in this month’s Davis Cup.
Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal.Credit:Getty Images
Speaking before the United Cup draw on Thursday when he was officially announced as part of the Australian team, Kyrgios said he was relishing the chance to return to the court for the Australian summer.
“I’ll put myself into a position to play an event like that, a special event,” he said. “We’ll see. If my body is right and it’s the right preparation, I’ll go ahead with it.
“I’m not going to play any more [before Christmas]. I don’t want to sacrifice time at home. If I play more I don’t have that time at home, especially with the way my mum is progressing, being here with my girlfriend at home in Sydney.
“I don’t want to give up too much time on the road. Five or six months on the road is more than enough for me.”
The United Cup will feature round-robin matches in which the nations play two men’s and two women’s singles matches before a mixed doubles event.
The three winners from each capital city as well as a lucky loser will advance to the finals in Sydney. The event has been endorsed by both the ATP and WTA meaning players will be able to gain valuable rankings points on the eve of the first major of the year.
Poland’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek, who won two slams this year after Ash Barty’s retirement, will feature in a Brisbane group alongside Switzerland and one of two qualifiers yet to be decided.
Top seeds Greece, featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, will be the star attractions in Perth battling Belgium and another qualifier.
The United States, Germany and Czech Republic comprise the other Sydney-based group alongside Australia, Spain and Great Britain.
But all the focus will be on Kyrgios and Australia, who will need to hit the ground running to advance in a group featuring a Great Britain team without Andy Murray and Emma Raducanu.
“Any time Rafa is in town make sure you catch it because he’s pretty extraordinary,” Australian tennis legend Wally Masur said.
“The energy around the team can make a difference and players know they’re playing for their teammates. Anyone who has caught Nick and Demon [de Minaur] playing doubles together will know what I mean.
“Nick has been a great mentor to Alex and he’s really encouraged him in every single way. They both feed off each other even though they’re very different personalities.”
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