Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka has arrived in Western Australia, bringing a wave of star power to Perth as final preparations begin for the 2026 United Cup.
Osaka's Anticipation for United Cup Debut
The former world number one touched down on Saturday afternoon, less than a week before the opening event of the new tennis calendar. Osaka, 28, last visited Perth for the 2018 Hopman Cup and spoke warmly of her return to kick off the season.
"It's probably one of my favourite parts of the year and for us to be starting here, it's going to be really fun," Osaka said. "I haven't been to Perth in a little minute, so it's good to be back." She revealed she had initially committed to the ASB Classic in Auckland but chose to make her United Cup debut instead.
High-Profile Matches Await at RAC Arena
Osaka is set to represent Japan in two marquee singles matches at Perth's RAC Arena. She will face Great Britain's former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Greece's ex-world number three Maria Sakkari. The two-time Australian Open champion said she plans to treat the team competition like the Billie Jean King Cup.
"To get a couple of matches in against really good players, I feel like for me when I watch the United Cup, I see such good matches, and I've always wanted to participate, so I'm glad I'm here," Osaka remarked.
Return to Form and a Star-Studded Field
Osaka's arrival underscores a remarkable return to the sport's upper echelons. After missing the 2023 season due to pregnancy, she rocketed up the rankings in 2025 to finish as the world number 16. Her season was highlighted by a run to the US Open semifinals, her deepest major advance since winning the 2021 Australian Open.
She is not the only headline act arriving in Western Australia. The United Cup field is packed with talent, including:
- Women's world number three Coco Gauff (USA)
- Men's world number six Taylor Fritz (USA)
- Italian world number eight Jasmine Paolini
- Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka
Great Britain's team has suffered a blow, with men's world number 130 Billy Harris replacing injured star Jack Draper. Draper, the British number one and a former world number four, has withdrawn from both the United Cup and the Australian Open.
Osaka's last Perth outing eight years ago saw her face a Swiss Hopman Cup team featuring the legendary Roger Federer. Now, she returns as a grand slam champion herself, ready to launch another season from the courts of Western Australia.
