Team event lobs in with $15m ahead of the Australian Open

A new team competition with US$15 million in prize money will open the 2023 tennis season ahead of the Australian Open.

Tennis Australia announced the formation of the United Cup yesterday, saying it will involve women and men from 18 countries competing from December 29 to January 8. Matches will be played in groups in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.

Each squad will include up to four women and four men at the event, which will have 500 WTA and 500 ATP rankings points available.

Each contest will include four singles matches — two between women and two between men — and one in mixed doubles.

The winners of each group will advance to a final-four playoff in Sydney during January 6-8.

The next-best performing team from the group stages will complete the four teams in the finals.

Australia are guaranteed a spot in the field; other nations will qualify based on WTA and ATP rankings.

WTA chairman and chief executive Steve Simon said it was an “important collaboration”.

The season’s first Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open, starts in Melbourne on January 16.