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Uniting Roles At The United Cup: Dimitrov, Flipkens Stepping Up As Playing Captains

Mastery of multitasking could hold the key for success at the inaugural United Cup.

Six of the 18 nations in the mixed-teams event are led by ‘playing captains’, including four in Perth. Team Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov is one of the stars trying to balance supporting their teammates with their own match preparation in the Western Australian capital.

“It's a little different; I'm not gonna lie,” said eight-time ATP Tour champion Dimitrov. On Thursday he supported his teammate Isabella Shinikova courtside as she took on Team Greece’s Despina Papamichail, while simultaneously preparing for the following match on the RAC Arena schedule, his own singles clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

“I was in and out [of the team box],” said Dimitrov, who does have previous experience as a playing captain from the 2020 ATP Cup. “I had to eat some and rest some and tie my shoes and prepare. Usually, I have all that time to do things by myself for myself, and now it was in a completely different rhythm for me, which was okay. I mean, I did that in the ATP Cup.

“Obviously it takes a little bit more energy than usual, but I felt that I was managing it quite well, again, even with my match. So, it was a very close call. It's something that just you have got to deal with, I guess.”

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Honouring Pele: Team Brazil Reflects On Football Icon's Death

The world mourned Friday after learning football icon Pele had passed away. The news hit close to home for Brazil’s United Cup team, which battled hard to honour the legend in Brisbane.

“I think everybody, not just us, but Brazil and the whole world is going to miss him,” Luisa Stefani said after her mixed doubles win alongside Rafael Matos. “He’s got a great personality and he’s a great ambassador for football, but also for sport in general. He managed to get people united, which I think is what we’re trying to do with this tournament.”

Stefani added: “We played today to honour him and to celebrate him because that’s what he did. He played with his heart, he showed love to everybody, so that’s what Team Brazil is going to do not only today but for the rest of the tournament and the rest of the year. So thanks Pele, rest in peace.”

"We played today to honour him and to celebrate him." @Luisa__Stefani with beautiful words of tribute to Pele ??#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/a61CARkTBq

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) December 30, 2022

Thiago Monteiro, Brazil's No. 1 men's singles player, reflected on Pele’s impact on his day-to-day life.

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Garcia Routs Podoroska, Secures French Win Against Argentina

WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia kicked off the new season as she had left off the last one: in phenomenal form. The World No.4 dispatched Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-0 in just 64 minutes on Friday to give France an unassailable 3-0 lead over Argentina in the United Cup.

Garcia had only conceded three games against Podoroska in their sole previous meeting, in the second round of Monterrey 2017, and went one better this time as she racked up 24 winners in just 14 games.

Podoroska had a rough start to the match, with two foot faults contributing to a pair of double faults in the opening game the second down break point. Garcia needed little help to impose her swashbuckling strategy on the Argentinian, though.

[ATP APP]

Swarming the net at every opportunity, including straight off several returns, the 29-year-old won 18 out of 24 points in the forecourt. She conceded only two points behind her first serve and never faced a break point.

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Captain Wawrinka Clinches Opening United Cup Tie For Switzerland

Instead of ‘Captain Stan’, call Stan Wawrinka ‘Captain Clutch’.

Wawrinka clinched Switzerland’s first United Cup tie win on Friday when he defeated Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 6-3, 7-6(3) in the No. 1 men’s singles match. Switzerland holds an insurmountable 3-0 lead with No. 2 women’s singles and mixed doubles still to come.

“I was super happy when they announced this United Cup, to have the chance to play for the Swiss with my teammates and everybody and to play here in Brisbane. Tonight was a great level,” Wawrinka said. “I’m super happy with the way I was playing. I’ve been working really hard to be back at a better level and I’m happy with the performance today.”

Entering the match, former World No. 3 Wawrinka was 0-2 in his ATP Head2Head series with Bublik, one of the trickiest shotmakers on the ATP Tour. But the Swiss star was sharp in his first match of the season, trading his captain’s hat for his racquet in a one-hour, 31-minute victory.

Wawrinka, who spent all of Thursday evening cheering for and providing guidance to his team, was locked in from the start against the big-serving Kazakhstani. The 37-year-old did not lose his serve in the match and did not allow Bublik to control the rhythm of their clash.

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Dart Fires Great Britain To Victory Against Australia

Harriet Dart defeated Maddison Inglis 6-4, 6-4 to seal a win for Great Britain over Australia at the United Cup. Team GB will move to the top of Group D and prepare to face Spain next.

Great Britain came into Day 2 with a 2-0 lead over the host nation after Cameron Norrie and Katie Swan posted straight-set wins on Day 1. Ranked No. 98 and playing in the No. 1 position for Great Britain, Dart seized her chance to clinch the tie by winning the coveted third point to build an unassailable 3-0 lead.

"Maddy played really great tennis today and I had to work for it," Dart said. "First match of the year, I was really nervous, but the crowd were great."

[ATP APP]

World No. 180 Inglis was a late substitution in singles after Australian No.1 Ajla Tomljanovic withdrew from the match due to a left knee injury. With Captain Sam Stosur urging her on, the 24-year-old from Perth acquitted herself well and, after a slow start, consistently challenged Dart from the baseline.

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Best Photos From Day 2 At The United Cup


Frances Tiafoe celebrates winning first set in Sydney on Friday.


Frances Tiafoe and Tomas Machac ahead of their United Cup match.


Petra Kvitova in action on Friday.


Petra Kvitova celebrates her victory in Sydney.


Matteo Berrettini competes for Team Italy on Friday in Brisbane.

Tiafoe/Machac
Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova
Matteo Berrettini
Maria Sakkari
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Sakkari Seals United Cup Victory For Greece Against Bulgaria

Team Greece have sealed the first victory of Group A at the United Cup in Perth after Maria Sakkari defeated Viktoriya Tomova 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes, giving her team an unassailable 3-0 lead over Team Bulgaria.

WTA No.6 Sakkari had lost to Tomova in their first meeting, over six years ago in the 2016 Szeged ITF W50 final. But she had gained revenge in the second round of Wimbledon 2022, and once again showed how far she has come in establishing herself as a solid Top 10 player.

The first half of the opening set was tightly contested, with Tomova's defensive skills and changes of pace drawing Sakkari into a number of extended exchanges. Indeed, it was the WTA No.90 who captured the first break, going up 2-1 as Sakkari leaked a double fault and errors on the forehand and at net.

But Sakkari responded with an immediate break back thanks to aggressive returning, and the pair remained neck-and-neck until the seventh game. After Sakkari had held for 4-3, Tomova required a medical timeout and returned with her lower left leg strapped.

On resumption, the Bulgarian's attempts to shorten the points were a contrast to her earlier successful tactics and did not pay off. Sakkari broke for 5-3 by quickly tracking down a Tomova dropshot, and then converted her first set point with a forehand winner.

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Thiem Headlines Australian Open Wild Cards

Former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem was awarded a main draw wild card into the Australian Open, the tournament announced Friday.

World No. 102 Thiem, who is continuing his comeback from a wrist injury, has enjoyed plenty of success at Melbourne Park. In 2020, the Austrian earned three consecutive Top 10 wins — including an upset of first seed Rafael Nadal — en route to the final at the season’s first major. Only Novak Djokovic was able to stop him in the championship match.

Thiem owns a 19-8 record at the Australian Open and has advanced to at least the Round of 16 in four of his past five appearances.

[ATP APP]

Tournament organisers also announced main draw wild cards for American Christopher Eubanks and Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

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Berrettini Puts Italy On Brink Of Victory Against Brazil

Matteo Berrettini made a good start to his season Friday and in doing so put Italy in position to close out its tie against Brazil at the United Cup.

The Italian powered past Brazilian No. 1 Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 7-6(7) to give his country a 2-1 lead. Lucia Bronzetti will now try to clinch the Group E tie in the No. 2 women’s singles match when she faces Laura Pigossi.

“Pretty happy I have to say. It’s been a long time since I’ve played my last singles match, so I didn’t know what to expect. I think the level was pretty high,” Berrettini said. “I’m happy for my performance, but obviously when you play in these kind of competitions the most important thing is to get the win and bring a point for the team and that’s why I’m even happier.”

Berrettini needed two hours and 51 minutes to defeat Monteiro last year on the clay of Rio de Janeiro. Their clash Friday was also tough, but after saving two set points in the second set the favoured Italian used his bigger game to hit his way to victory in Brisbane after one hour and 56 minutes.

Monteiro battled valiantly for his country, hitting a tremendous forehand passing shot at one moment late in the second set that drew raucous applause from the Pat Rafter Arena crowd. He also benefitted from the encouragement of his Team Zone, with captain Rafael Paciaroni and coach Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo urging him on throughout.

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Kvitova Keeps Czech Hopes Alive With Dramatic Pegula Win

On Day 2 of the United Cup, Petra Kvitova wrote a new chapter in her history of heroics for the Czech Republic. The two-time Wimbledon champion saved seven set points in the opening set to defeat World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, 7-6(6), 6-4 to give the Czech Republic their first win of the mixed-teams event in Sydney.

The win closed the Americans' lead to 2-1, with Frances Tiafoe to face Tomas Machac in the last singles match of the tie. A win for Tiafoe would seal the Group C tie for the Americans. Otherwise, the tie will be decided by mixed doubles.

"We keep fighting," Kvitova said. "I think USA is such a great team with great players in the team. We are not really favorites here, but we are fighting every match, every point. That's our team spirit."

[ATP APP]

The 80-minute opening set was a supreme tug-o-war. Neither player saw a break point through the first eight games of the match, leading to a dramatic finish that saw a combined 13 set points come and go between the two. Pegula gamely saved six set points to hold to 5-5 and then broke Kvitova straight away to earn a chance to serve out the set.

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Nadal & Team Spain Visit Sydney Harbour Amidst United Cup Preparations

With the luxury of a late start at the inaugural United Cup, Team Spain took full advantage of some leisure time by taking a trip to the iconic Sydney Harbour on Thursday. Led by Rafael Nadal, Pablo Carreno Busta and Paula Badosa, the Spaniards will open play on Saturday — New Year's Eve — against Great Britain.

"We're going to try our best to start in a good way and then enjoy the last day of the year," Nadal said. "Starting with a good result on the 31st helps to finish the year in a positive way... We're going to work as a team, and let's see if we can [take] our chances."

[ATP APP]

The 36-year-old never played for Spain at Hopman Cup, and he is enjoying the unique experience of the mixed-gender event in Australia.

"It's a new experience, new type of competition," he said of the United Cup. "I think all of us, we are very excited to enjoy this special one... We never worked as a mixed team."

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United Cup Day 2 Preview: Wawrinka Continues Comeback Against Bublik

When Stan Wawrinka injured his foot early in the 2021 season, he thought he’d miss only a few weeks. Instead, he was sidelined for more than a year — and suffered many moments of doubt that he would ever play tennis again.

“Of course there were those questions in my mind,” Wawrinka said last year in Monte Carlo before his first match back on the ATP Tour. “I was afraid things wouldn’t happen the way I wanted them to happen.”

Wawrinka faced Alexander Bublik in that comeback match and played credibly, losing in three sets. As it turns out, the 37-year-old Swiss player’s first match of 2023 comes against Bublik on Friday in Brisbane as Switzerland and Kazakhstan meet in a Group B confrontation at the United Cup.

[ATP APP]

His 2022 season, understandably, was an uneven one, but there were flickers of the elite game that took Wawrinka to three Grand Slam singles titles. He reached the quarter-finals in Basel and the semis in Metz, beating then-World No. 4 Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round before falling in the semis to — yes — Bublik, when a hamstring injury forced his retirement 18 minutes in.

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Cornet Cruises Past Carle; France Lead Argentina 1-0 In United Cup

Alize Cornet passed the test of a first-time encounter with flying colours on Thursday at the United Cup, defeating Maria Lourdes Carle 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 15 minutes to give Team France a 1-0 lead over Team Argentina in Perth.

Cornet, a quarter-finalist at the 2022 Australian Open, had never faced No.147-ranked Carle before. Consequently, the first five games were filled with extended baseline exchanges as both players probed each other's games while refusing to miss.

It was University of Georgia alumna Carle, 22, who ran out of ideas first. A lapse into error handed Cornet the first break for 4-2, and the Frenchwoman seized momentum firmly to reel off six straight games, including 13 of the last 14 points of the first set.

Punishing Carle's second serves and getting the better of the all-court rallies, Cornet was in control at 2-0 in the second set -- until she squandered three game points for 3-0. Carle took advantage, breaking back with a vicious slice to halt the run of games against her.

But Cornet refused to let that become a turning point. A booming backhand winner down the line regained her advantage for 3-1 and she did not drop another game, sealing her first match point with an authoritative smash.

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Australian Open Prize Money Hits Record High

The world’s best tennis players will be competing for more than AUD $100 million prize money this summer.

The historic prize pool is a result of a record $76.5 million in prize money for the Australian Open (a 3.4 per cent increase) as well as the addition of the lucrative new United Cup event.

“It is critical to the continued success of the Australian tennis summer that we provide strong and relevant playing opportunities and ensure that the best players in the world are compensated appropriately. We want to ensure Australia is the launchpad for the global season and that we see as much of them as possible. They inspire us all to engage in this great sport as well as inspiring future generations,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.

“We are delighted to have more than $100 million in prize money on offer across the Australian summer, along with more chances to compete across the country. We’ve worked tirelessly alongside the ATP and WTA to launch the exciting new United Cup, which includes its own significant ranking points and prize money, a further two WTA and ATP events in Adelaide, the Hobart International and an upgraded ATP 100 Challenger in Canberra.

“At the Australian Open we’ve upped prize money for every round from qualifying, through to the finals, with the major increases in the early rounds, where these substantial rewards help players invest in their own careers and in many cases, set themselves up for success throughout the year.”

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Bencic Reels In Putintseva To Give Switzerland Lead At United Cup

World No.12 Belinda Bencic opened her season with a tense 7-6(0), 6-3 win over No. 51 Yulia Putintseva on Day 1 of the United Cup in Brisbane. The win gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead over Kazakhstan in Group B.

Bencic secured the straight-set win by coolly reeling in Putintseva, who led by a break early in both sets. After falling behind 4-1 in the opening set, Bencic fought off three set points on her serve to level at 5-5. She took her momentum into the tie-break, where she kept a clean sheet to secure the opening set after 72 minutes.

"I'm happy I kept fighting," Bencic said. "For sure the positive attitude as well from my team, the crowd, and the great atmosphere got me through."

Bencic pulled off another comeback in the second set, though with fewer dramatics. Despite falling behind 1-3, the Swiss Olympic champion never lost her cool. With both team captain Stan Wawrinka and coach Dmitry Tursunov urging her on, Bencic cleaned up her errors and ratcheted up the pressure to win the next five games.

"How can you not listen to such a champion when he's telling you things," Bencic said, referring to Wawrinka. "I was trying to listen, to focus, and do what I had to do."

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A Gift For Wrists: Learn An ATP Physio's Methods

The constant, intense movement for tennis players’ wrists could lead to inflammation and stress. One way to help is to have a qualified ATP physio like David Pires apply high-quality kinesiology tape. 

The point of applying the Nitto kinesiology tape is to increase the blood flow as well as stabilise and protect the wrist. Importantly, the quality of Nitto’s tape ensures that the treatment does not restrict the movement of the wrist, allowing players to compete to the best of their abilities. 

The ATP went behind the scenes with Pires as he demonstrated such a wrist treatment.

Nitto is the Official Athletic Tape Partner of the ATP Tour, and Title Partner of the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be held in Turin 12-19 November 2023.

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Fit & Firing, Zverev Excited To Return At United Cup

After six months out, Alexander Zverev will make his return from injury this week when he competes for Team Germany at the United Cup. The two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion tore three ligaments in his right ankle during his Roland Garros semi-final clash against Rafael Nadal in June, before suffering a bone edema injury in September.

Fit again, the 25-year-old is delighted to be able to compete over the next fortnight in Sydney, having endured a testing period on the sidelines.

“Finally being back on court, being back in a competitive official tournament as well [is great],” Zverev said. “It's been a long time for me unfortunately but I'm looking forward to Australia. I've always enjoyed being here, I've always enjoyed coming back here and as I said, just playing tennis again, just being out competing and I've always enjoyed team events.

“Of course, I'm coming back from injury. I think I'm not going to be playing my absolute best tennis this week but I'm looking forward to being back on the court and I think the team atmosphere will help.”

[ATP APP]

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Norrie Moves Great Britain Ahead Against Australia

Cameron Norrie ensured Great Britain made a winning start to its United Cup tie Thursday when he powered past Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-3 to give his nation a 1-0 lead against Australia in Group D.

In front of a lively crowd in Sydney, the World No. 14 did his best to quieten the Australian supporters, hitting his flat backhand with consistent depth to keep De Minaur pinned behind the baseline for large periods of the 90-minute encounter.

“I am feeling great,” Norrie said. “First match of the year there is a lot of nerves. It is a tough task to play Demon in Australia on this court, him playing at home. He loves playing here and it was not easy. I ran a lot, absolutely drenched three shirts. A lot of running and it was humid in there. I enjoyed the atmosphere and it was nice to get the win as well.”

[ATP APP]

The 27-year-old, who won 87 per cent (26/30) of his first-serve points, crucially rallied from 1-1, 0/40 on serve in the first set, gaining momentum from that moment to take control of the first set. Norrie then earned a break in the second set and won the majority of the lung-busting exchanges to triumph.

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Djokovic Ready For Adelaide: 'The Field Is Super Strong'

Sixteen years ago, 19-year-old Novak Djokovic lifted the third ATP Tour trophy of his career in Adelaide. The Serbian, now a 91-time tour-level titlist, will try to triumph in the Australian city once again next week when he takes on a tough field at the Adelaide International 1.

“The field is super strong. You have Medvedev, Felix, Rublev. You have really, really top guys,” Djokovic said Thursday. “Also in the opening rounds, you can play Thanasi Kokkinakis, who is title defender, right? That could be fun actually. Playing Thanasi in front of his home fans, could be fun.”

Djokovic knows he will need to be sharp from the first ball at the ATP 250. As the 35-year-old noted, some of the world’s best players will be competing, including former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, red-hot Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, 2022 Nitto ATP Finals semi-finalist Andrey Rublev, Rolex Paris Masters champion Holger Rune and Italian Jannik Sinner.

“I always have faith in myself and belief that I can win every tournament that I play in. I think with the career that I've had, I feel like I deserve to have that kind of I guess mental approach,” Djokovic said. “Things are obviously different. Lots of young guys on the tour, [there has been] kind of a shift of generations. But [Rafael] Nadal and myself, [we are] still going strong from the older guys.”

Djokovic added: “I know what I need to do in order to compete with them, in order to be one of the contenders for the title here and in Melbourne. The good memories and good history that I have on Australian soil gives me a lot of positive emotions and belief that I can do it again, that I can go far.”

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Papamichail Pulls Off Comeback Against Shinikova To Give Greece 1-0 Lead

The first three-set battle of the inaugural United Cup saw Despina Papamichail come from a set and a break down to defeat Isabella Shinikova 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 19 minutes, giving Team Greece a 1-0 lead over Team Bulgaria in Perth.

It was the second time in the past three months that Papamichail had defeated Shinikova from a set down, having previously won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) in a Monastir ITF W60 tournament in October.

Initially, Shinikova's heavier weight of shot prevailed. The 31-year-old built an early 3-1 lead, and resisted a comeback attempt from Papamichail to survive eight deuces and regain the break for 4-2.

But trailing 2-1 in the second set, Papamichail's tenacious qualities shone through. The Greek player began to find a plethora of winners, with her backhand particularly impressive, and delivered a near-flawless passage of play to level the match.

[ATP APP]

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