United Cup 2026: Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper sign up to play for Great Britain in Australian mixed team event | Tennis news
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will team up to represent Great Britain at the 2026 United Cup, the mixed team event which kicks off the tennis season in Australia in January.
The event is expected to mark the British No.1s’ respective returns to tour events after injuries ended their 2025 campaigns prematurely. Both players will make their tournament debuts.
The fourth edition of the event, to be held in Perth and Sydney from January 2 to 11, will feature 18 countries with teams made up of up to six players – three men and three women – from each. Teams are initially divided into six groups, three of which will take place in each host city, with the group winners and two runners-up advancing to the quarter-finals.
Each tie is made up of a men’s singles match and a women’s singles match, featuring the respective top-ranked players, and a mixed doubles match, meaning Raducanu and Draper could play together in the latter depending on who else is representing Great Britain.
The United Cup is sanctioned by the ATP and WTA circuits and earns points in the world singles rankings. The tournament is held in direct preparation for the Australian Open, which begins first with qualifying on January 12, then the main draw on January 18.
Raducanu, who withdrew earlier this month from her remaining tournaments this year due to illness, said: “I am honored to be able to make my United Cup debut in January.
“Being able to play for Team GB with my teammates is a unique opportunity and a week to enjoy. It’s great to be able to experience a new format on tour, represent my country and spend a few extra weeks in Australia.”
Draper, whose season ended in September due to an arm injury after withdrawing from his second round match at the US Open, added: “I’m excited to get back on court and compete in the United Cup. I’ll be watching the draw to see if Team GB will play in Perth or Sydney.
“I haven’t been to either one so it will be nice to compete in a brand new city in Australia.”
Tournament director Stephen Farrow said: “Seeing British No.1s Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu for the first time will bring new star power to the tournament.”
Draper was scheduled to compete in this year’s event, but withdrew due to injury. Katie Boulter, Billy Harris, Olivia Nicholls and Charles Broom represented Great Britain, who topped their group before losing to Poland in the quarter-finals.
Who else has signed up so far?
As part of the announcement made by the organizers on Wednesday, Alex de Minaur and Maya Joint were confirmed in the list of Australian hosts.
The Poles Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz were the first duo to confirm their participation at the beginning of the month. They lost to Americans Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz in this year’s final.
The full list of countries and players in action will be revealed before the official draw on November 17.
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