The fourth edition of the United Cup in Perth has wrapped up, leaving a trail of glowing reviews from the world's tennis elite. As Team USA and Switzerland advanced to the semifinals in Sydney, stars like Coco Gauff and Stefanos Tsitsipas were quick to endorse the team tournament, labelling it an indispensable part of their Australian Open preparations.
Star-Studded Field Praises Unique Format
Perth's RAC Arena played host to one of the strongest United Cup line-ups yet, featuring a remarkable assembly of talent. The event boasted women's world No.4 and reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff, four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, and men's world No.9 Taylor Fritz. They were joined by Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka, former US Open winner Emma Raducanu, and top-11 players Belinda Bencic and Jasmine Paolini.
For Tsitsipas, a veteran of three Perth campaigns in the last four years, the tournament's appeal is clear. He values the unique blend of a competitive atmosphere within a relaxed environment. Fresh off a significant win over a top-10 opponent in Perth—his first in nearly two years—the 2023 Australian Open finalist treats the event with the seriousness of an ATP 500 tournament.
"It's one of the toughest competitions in tennis," Tsitsipas explained. "You're not only experiencing the stressful moments on court yourself; you have a teammate you've got to support. I personally really like that competition. It brings tennis really close to the people." He confirmed the United Cup is his priority tournament to start the season each year.
Perfect Platform for Grand Slam Nerves
Coco Gauff, playing in Perth for the second consecutive year, highlighted the practical benefits of the team format. She noted the guarantee of at least two tough singles matches, plus the opportunity for mixed doubles, creates ideal preparation for Melbourne Park. Despite a surprise loss in her second singles match, Gauff rebounded with a strong victory over Maria Sakkari and a crucial mixed doubles win to help Team USA defeat Greece.
"The team format does create that pressure, not only in singles, but in mixed," Gauff said. "Feeling the nerves over and over again, you learn how to manage them. Hopefully I can be in a later stage of a Grand Slam and maybe feel those same nerves, I'll know how to manage them even better."
American teammate Taylor Fritz echoed the sentiment, appreciating the round-robin structure. After an initial loss, the format allowed him two additional matches to build fitness. "We're all coming off an off-season. Showing up here, you're guaranteed to get the two matches. If I'm playing somewhere else, I show up and lose that first match, I don't get a chance to play again," Fritz stated.
A Legacy Event for Perth
The tournament's success in merging the ATP and WTA tours was a recurring theme. Swiss star Belinda Bencic, who has a rich history in Perth dating back to the Hopman Cup with Roger Federer, won all six of her matches this year. She praised the event's uniqueness.
"It creates great views on tennis to put the ATP and WTA together. People are really excited to watch mixed doubles, it's something different," Bencic said. "I'm always looking forward for this event, so I hope that it's going to keep going."
The consensus from the players is resounding: the United Cup in Perth is more than just a season opener. It's a critical competitive tune-up that simulates grand slam pressure, fosters team spirit rarely seen in tennis, and successfully brings both tours together for fans. With such powerful endorsements from the sport's biggest names, the tournament's future as a cornerstone of the Australian tennis summer seems assured.
