Looking for Tennis and Racket Sports International News?

World No.15 Beatriz Haddad Maia gave Brazil a 1-0 lead over fifth seeds Italy after a dominant win over World No. 27 Martina Trevisan, 6-2, 6-0, on Day 1 of the United Cup in Brisbane.

"We played in the middle of last year and it was three sets," Haddad Maia said. "I worked very hard to push myself to play my best tennis. I worked very hard in the pre-season to be as ready as I could today."

The top seeds in Group E, Italy will try to level the tie in the second singles match of the day, as Lorenzo Musetti takes on Felipe Meligeni Alves later.

The Hologic WTA Tour's Most Improved Player of 2022, Haddad Maia picked up right where she left off in her breakout season. The Brazilian No.1 dominated behind her serve, winning 73 per cent of her first-serve points.

Trevisan, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros last year, struggled to find any inroads. In the face of Haddad Maia's constant baseline and return pressure, she held serve just once in the match, getting broken six times.

Taylor Fritz wasted little time in earning his first win of the season Thursday when he overcame Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4 to give Team United States a 1-0 lead against Team Czech Republic at the United Cup.

Competing on Ken Rosewall Arena, the World No. 9 outlasted the 21-year-old Lehecka in the baseline exchanges, demonstrating great footwork to dictate on his forehand throughout the 75-minute clash in Sydney.

“In a team event, first match of the year, there are always some nerves coming out, so it is great to come out and get the team ahead,” Fritz said. “Hopefully loosen everyone else up. It is a tough position to play if behind, so it is really good for the team.”

[ATP APP]

The 25-year-old also raised his level when needed, saving both break points he faced in his first ATP Head2Head meeting against Lehecka.

The 2023 season is starting on a high.

Week 1 will feature the United Cup, the new 18-country, mixed-teams event. The world's best players will be in action across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, including Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Poland's Iga Swiatek. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch at the inaugural event.

1) Playing Captains: Five of the 18 countries competing in the inaugural United Cup feature playing captains: Bulgaria (Grigor Dimitrov), France (Edouard Roger-Vasselin), Greece (Petros Tsitsipas), Kazakhstan (Alexander Bublik) and Switzerland (Stan Wawrinka).

2) Nadal Leads Spanish Bid: World No. 2 Nadal headlines Team Spain at the United Cup. The 36-year-old performed impressively on Australian soil last season, winning an ATP 250 title in Melbourne before he captured the Australian Open crown. WTA star Paula Badosa and World No. 13 Pablo Carreno Busta will also feature for Spain against Team Australia and Team Great Britain in Group D.

3) Home Favourites Australia: Co-captains Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur will aim to bring home fans joy and guide Team Australia to the title in Sydney over the next 11 days. The home nation will be spearheaded by Alex de Minaur, with Ajla Tomljanovic the women’s No. 1 singles player. The team has been bonding in the lead-up to the mixed-nations event, having visited Campbells Cove earlier this week. Australia will be looking to use its collective team spirit on court to earn wins in Sydney.

Leave it up to Iga Swiatek to change the trajectory. 

In this case, we’re not talking about her on-court results. During Poland’s United Cup press conference Wednesday in Brisbane, Swiatek (in good fun) wanted to move on from the team camaraderie line of questioning.

To be fair, it’s safe to say her fellow Polish teammates are reveling in not only playing together at this inaugural team event, but have aspirations of succeeding. 

“Yeah, pumped for the team, and we will try our best,” said Hubert Hurkacz, the ATP’s World No. 10.

Still, Swiatek was ready to change it up, which of course, led to questions on her 2022 season, where she finished as the top-ranked player by a landslide. Swiatek, who finished with more than twice as many rankings points as No. 2 Ons Jabeur, was quick to admit her season went far better than she could have imagined — but was also ready to move on.

Returning to the scene of past successes can be daunting, but Team France’s Caroline Garcia and Alize Cornet are feeling nothing but excitement as they return to Perth to spearhead Team France’s charge at the inaugural United Cup.

The pair was part of France’s Fed Cup-winning team in 2019, a victory that was clinched with final victory against Australia in the city in Western Australia.

“Yesterday when we had our first hit on centre court with Caroline, we had a little moment of emotion coming back on this court,” said Cornet of Perth’s RAC Arena, where Team France will take on Team Croatia and Team Argentina in Group F. “It was very powerful, this team experience, and this joy of winning… So I hope this lucky charm is going to act on this team, because we have a really good team to go far in the tournament.”

Captain Edouard Roger-Vasselin has a strong team at his disposal this week, when Top 50 ATP stars Arthur Rinderknech and Adrian Mannarino join Cornet and WTA World No. 4 Caroline Garcia as their team’s singles players. Garcia reached her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open before lifting the biggest title of her career at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth, and the 29-year-old is keen to showcase more of that form to help her team to success this week in Perth.

“I think with the format, every match and every game is important,” said Garcia. “If you cannot qualify as first one, it would be the second one, and so every match is very important for the team. But also as your personal goal, you want to keep improving, play the best you can when you're on court.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas is determined to “create some beautiful memories” at the inaugural United Cup.

The No.4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings is already achieving that goal, even before taking to the court for his first match.

Tsitsipas visited Perth’s picturesque Rottnest Island yesterday, where he played beach tennis and enjoyed local delicacies for lunch alongside team-mates Despina Papamichail and Valentini Grammatikopoulou.

Valentini Grammatikopoulou, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Despina Papamichail pose on the beach on Rottnest Island. Photo Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

The Team Greece members also captured selfies with quokkas, small animals that are unique to the island.

With the stage set, Team Australia is determined to deliver in front of its home fans in Sydney this week at the United Cup. The home nation, led by Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic, will play Team Great Britain and Team Spain in a stacked Group D.

“I think everyone is excited to kick off the year here in Sydney,” vice-captain Samantha Stosur said on Wednesday. “We've got amazing players on this team. Alex [de Minaur] is one of the best players in the world. [Jason] Kubler has had an incredible year as well, qualifying for a couple of slams.”

The World No. 24 De Minaur will compete as the men’s No. 1 singles player at the 18-country mixed-teams event for Australia and will face Cameron Norrie and Rafael Nadal in Sydney. The 23-year-old is excited to test himself against the world’s best at the start of the season in the city he grew up in.

“For me, it's a great opportunity,” De Minaur said. “I've got two great matches. I'm playing Cameron Norrie and Nadal. It's a great test for me. I'm excited to put myself out there. It's going to be great to play on home ground, in front of friends and family, hopefully an electric atmosphere.”

[ATP APP]

Team USA has reason to feel confident on the eve of the United Cup. The Americans have sent a team to Sydney that sees No.11 Madison Keys and No.19 Frances Tiafoe as their No.2 singles players behind No.3 Jessica Pegula and No.9 Taylor Fritz. In fact, the Americans are the only team in the entire 18-team competition to boast a total of four Top 20 players.

"I think we have a great team," Tiafoe told reporters on Media Day. "Hopefully we can win it. Hopefully Taylor, Jess and Madi can carry me. It's easy to compete when it's not about you."

The United States is the top seed in Group C, which also features a Petra Kvitova-led Czech Republic, and Germany.

"I think it's an interesting group, especially with the United States," said Germany's captain Mischa Zverev. "They have very strong male and female players who have performed well over the last months.

"I don't want to say we're not the favorites, because we have a very strong team, but I think it will be very important to use all our little tricks to win those games. I don't want to say winning ugly is important, but in a team, you have to use everything you can to distract the other player, in a fair manner of course, but use your strength and win those ties."

Rafael Nadal said that he is raring to go at the start of the season as he prepares to spearhead Team Spain’s United Cup title quest in Sydney. The 36-year-old will represent his nation at the new 18-country mixed-teams event, held in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from 29 December-8 January.

“Always the beginning of the season is exciting,” Nadal said in Spain’s pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. “For everybody [it] is a new thing, all the doubts, how things [are] going to go. Even if I don't know how many seasons I have on the Tour, beginnings are always different.

“[I have the] highest motivation to try to start well. It's always important to start well for me, for the confidence. [The] past few months haven't been easy for me. I just try to have the right practice here before the tournament starts. Then of course, try to help the team. [The] main thing for me now is [to] recover the positive feelings on court, being competitive. I hope to. I am ready to make that happen, but let's see.”

[ATP APP]

Nadal enjoyed another historic season in 2022, winning four tour-level titles. The 36-year-old, who earned a 39-8 record on the year, tasted success on Australian soil 12 months ago, winning an ATP 250 title in Melbourne before he captured his second Australian Open crown.

The stage is set. The 2023 season begins on Thursday in Australia, where 18 countries will battle it from 29 December-8 January to become United Cup champion.

The new mixed-teams event will see some of the biggest stars in action in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, with Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek and Stefanos Tsitsipas among those representing their countries.

Here is what to watch on Day 1 of the United Cup.

[ATP APP]

Perth
A popcorn clash between two former Nitto ATP Finals champions is the highlight of the opening day in Perth, with Greece’s Tsitsipas taking on Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in Group A. Tsitsipas earned a Tour-leading 61 wins last season, lifting trophies in Monte Carlo and Mallorca. The World No. 4 will be aiming to start the new season impressively and build on his winning record against Dimitrov, with Tsitsipas leading their ATP Head2Head series 5-1.

Team Bulgaria took some time out from their United Cup preparations to visit the stunning Cottesloe Beach in Perth Tuesday.

Led by top-ranked players Grigor Dimitrov and Viktoriya Tomova, the Bulgarian team greeted local surf life savers and got competitive with some beach games. “It’s fun when we can do some social activities, especially outside of the sport. I think everybody enjoyed it,” said former world No.3 Dimitrov. “The whole team is in good spirits. We’re trying to make the most of (our time in Perth) and looking forward to the competition.”

The United Cup, a mixed-team event consisting of 18 nations, begins on 29 December with round-robin matches in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.Each United Cup tie comprises two men’s and two women’s singles matches, as well as one mixed doubles match, played across two days. Four countries then advance to the knockout stage in Sydney, which runs from 6-8 January.

Team Bulgaria begins its campaign against top seeds Greece at Perth’s RAC Arena on Thursday, with Dimitrov scheduled to face world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening session. Dimitrov is looking to improve a 1-5 win-loss record against Tsitsipas.

Visit Bulgaria's team page on unitedcup.com

The ATP Tour announced today a new partnership with PacificPine Sports (PPS) to create a range of world-class ATP-licensed tennis centres in China and Hong Kong.

The multi-year partnership, which begins in 2023, is an exciting opportunity for the ATP to engage with junior tennis players and young fans locally, expand opportunities in the sport, and for ATP Coach members to share their expert knowledge with players in a fast-growing region.

"We are thrilled to partner with PacificPine Sports to accelerate opportunities and share our expertise in Asia,” said Daniele Sano, ATP Tour Chief Business Officer. "This partnership will allow us to connect with aspiring players and passionate fans in an important market.”

The centres, which will be run by PPS, will offer members and local staff access to ATP Coaches, Alumni and Medical Services Team. PPS will have rights to use ATP Tour brand marks in promotional, advertising and marketing materials.

Daniele Sano, ATP Tour Chief Business Officer with Raymond Roessel, Founder & Co-CEO at PacificPine Sports Group.

With just two days to go until the inaugural edition of the United Cup, some of the competition's biggest names hit the practice courts Tuesday seeking to find their rhythm ahead of their opening matches.

Nick Kyrgios was among the Team Australia stars hitting in Sydney. The 27-year-old will meet Team Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Thursday’s evening session on Ken Rosewall Arena in his first singles match in Group D. Kyrgios is part of a strong lineup for the host nation, which also features Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur.

View Schedule

Also putting herself through her paces in Sydney was two-time Wimbledon champion and WTA star Petra Kvitova. The 29-time tour-level titlist is part of a Team Czech Republic which takes on third-seeded Team USA in its opening tie in Group C. Kvitova will be supported by fellow WTA star Marie Bouzkova, while the Czechs’ ATP contingent is led by clean-hitting 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka.

Petra Kvitova took to the practice court on Tuesday in Sydney. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.

Will team bonding lead to victory at the United Cup? Team Italy hopes so after exploring Brisbane on Tuesday.

"It’s beautiful to be here and to play a new mixed-teams event,” Matteo Berrettini said. “We’re happy and excited to play, and really looking forward to starting and seeing how the new format goes. It’s going to be exciting as I’ve never even played mixed doubles."

Berrettini, Marco Bortolotti, Lucia Bronzetti, Lorenzo Musetti, Camila Rosatello, Martina Trevisan, Andrea Vavassori and captain Vincenzo Santopadre visited the New Farm Park River Hub boat dock. They spent some time on a boat and posed for photos with the city’s skyline in the background.

Photo Credit: Tennis Australia
Everyone involved enjoyed the moment before the competition for the inaugural United Cup — and the season on the whole — heats up.

“We really enjoyed the boat today,” Trevisan said. “I’m very excited to be part of this team and we are looking forward to playing.”

Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic visit Sydney Harbour.

Alexander Zverev hits on Tuesday in Sydney.

Nick Kyrgios training on Tuesday in Sydney.

Petra Kvitova trains in Sydney.

Team Italy in Brisbane on Tuesday ahead of the United Cup.

Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic are among the stars leading Team Australia at the inaugural United Cup this week in Sydney. However, before play begins at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Thursday, the host nation took the opportunity to swap the practice courts for the city when they visited Campbells Cove on Tuesday.

De Minaur, Tomljanovic, Jason Kubler and Zoe Hives shared smiles and jokes before they posed for photos by the Sydney Harbour Bridge ahead of the 11-day event.

“We thrive playing for our country, representing the green and gold,” de Minaur said. “There is always a lot of passion and pride and it is a great time of the year. We are in the Aussie summer, ready to start 2023. There is no better place to be.”

“Aussies thrive in team competitions,” Tomljanovic said. “You see with the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, we made finals and I don’t think many people would have picked us to be in the last two standing.

“When I played for Australia for the first time, the camaraderie and the vibe of the team over that week was great. We see each other a lot during the year but don’t get to talk much. But when we come together it is like we have never left, so it is something in the culture.”

If you’ve never tuned into the ATP Challenger Tour, make it your new year’s resolution to watch the game’s brightest young stars this upcoming season.

One week from now, the Challenger Tour will begin its 46th year. This season, set to begin 2 January, will introduce innovations and enhancements that will strengthen the experience for players, spectators, and tournament hosts.

Key changes to this upcoming season, which were announced in September, include a projected 195 events, multi-million dollar prize money increases, and an optimised tournament calendar.

Total prize money on the Challenger Tour will rise from $13.2 million in 2022 to a record $21.1 million in 2023, an increase of 60 per cent. Round-by-round prize money distributions will improve earnings in the earlier rounds of tournaments.

Improvements will also see the Challenger Tour closely align with the ATP Tour and deliver a better balance of tournaments in both surface types and regions. The new enhancements will help create a more sustainable player pathway for more players competing on the Challenger Tour.

When Alex de Minaur found out about the United Cup launching in Australia this summer, he didn’t have to think twice about signing up. “For me, there is no greater honour than to represent your country,” the World No. 24 said.

“It’s another chance, another opportunity to do everything I can to hopefully get a win for Australia. I’ll make sure I’m ready to go and ready to give it my all.”

De Minaur got an early look at conditions on Ken Rosewall Arena during a practice session under the watchful eye of Tony Roche on Friday.

Australia has landed in a strong Group D, alongside Spain and Great Britain, for the round-robin stage of the mixed team event. “It’s going to be great for us to really test ourselves and have great matches before the Australian Open,” said De Minaur, who won a career-high 47 singles matches this season. It’s going to be tough, but we like being the underdogs. Hopefully we can push each other, have each other’s backs, come out with some great tennis and do Australia proud.”

Australia performed strongly in team competitions during 2022, reaching the finals of both the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup for the first time in almost three decades. De Minaur believes these results prove that Australia is a United Cup contender.

Denis Shapovalov spent his preseason training with one extra-special team member, fostering a dog named Merlin from the Humane Society of Manatee County.

The Canadian is a strong supporter of the HSMC shelter through his initiative Shapo Shelter, which helps bring awareness to shelter animals in need of good homes. Shapovalov often visits HSMC when he’s in Bradenton to visit with the animals they’ve rescued and show his support to all the staff for the amazing work they do, with many cats and dogs available for adoption.

[ATP APP]

Merlin, who has been at the shelter for over a year, was able to take a break from stressful shelter life and enjoy some time with Shapovalov, his girlfriend Mirjam Bjorklund and the rest of Team Shapo while the World No. 18 got ready for the 2023 season.

“Merlin is one of the most well-behaved dogs I’ve seen, way better than my dogs in Toronto," said Shapovalov. "He’s learns really quickly too — like we told him to go up and down the stairs slowly, and so he’s been doing that. We have cameras inside the house and he just stays by the door and waits for us. He’s also just been a shadow for us. He follows us around and seems like he just wants to please us. We really love him and are hoping he finds his forever home soon!”