Novak Djokovic will headline United Cup in 2024. Reuters
World primary Novak Djokovic will open his 2024 season on the blended groups United Cup in Australia, however injury-plagued Rafael Nadal was not on the Spain staff introduced Friday.
Djokovic will spearhead Serbia on the match from December 29-January 7 in Sydney and Perth as he builds in direction of the defence of his Australian Open title.
Nadal was a part of the Spain staff in 2023 earlier than injuring his hip on the opening Grand Slam of the yr. He has been out of motion since and underwent surgical procedure in June.
Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley stated this month Nadal planned to make his return to Grand Slam tennis at the Australian Open, which follows the United Cup.
Nadal responded on social media by thanking Tiley for his “confidence”, with out confirming if he would seem.
There are ATP occasions in Brisbane, Adelaide and Auckland in early January that Nadal may additionally use to arrange for the Australian Open.
9 of the world’s high 20 males and 5 of the highest 10 ladies will function on the United Cup, with defending champions the USA among the many favourites, led by Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz.
Poland, spearheaded by world quantity two and four-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, have been named high seeds for the 18-nation occasion.
Different massive names to signal on embody Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Maria Sakkari, and Caroline Garcia.
“They are all set to play in a format designed to showcase both the men’s and women’s game and the unique equality in tennis,” stated match director Stephen Farrow.
Nations might be drawn into six teams of three and compete in a round-robin format. Every tie will function one males’s and ladies’s match in addition to a blended doubles conflict.