Novak Djokovic headlines Perth’s incredible United Cup pool as Hopman Cup format returns
Perth has “lucked out” in the United Cup draw with Novak Djokovic and top-ranked Australians Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanović set to head west as the event undergoes a significant facelift writes ELIZA REILLY.
Perth has “lucked out” in the United Cup draw with Novak Djokovic and top-ranked Australians Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanović set to head west this summer.
Djokovic headlines a star-studded line-up of the best singles and doubles players in the world, the World No. 1 set to return to Perth for the first time since the 2013 Hopman Cup.
In a major coup for Western Australia, defending champions Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula (United States), reigning Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová (Czech Republic) and World No. 2 Iga Świątek (Serbia) will also compete at RAC Arena.
“Perth has lucked out with the choice draw and the choice teams to bring tennis back to Western Australia. The line-up is quite phenomenal,” former Billie Jean King Cup captain Alicia Molik said.
“Novak is the most supreme athlete on the planet from all sports and the fact we get to witness him here in our own backyard, the first week of the summer, is pretty exciting.
Added former World No. 4 Jelena Dokic: “You’re either going to see the best singles players in the world or the best mixed doubles players.
“Every single match matters.”
The United Cup has undergone a significant facelift ahead of its second year, with the Hopman Cup format set to return. Sydney and Perth will host nine teams, grouped into pools of three, who will compete against each other in ties determined by one men’s singles match, one women’s singles and mixed doubles.
On offer is $15 million prize money and ATP and WTA rankings points.
“In Western Australia, we’ve grown up with mixed teams competitions and the Hopman Cup being a real leader in that space,” Molik said. “This format is very similar. It’s what we know and what the crowds love as well.”
Australia will compete against the United States and Great Britain in group C, pitting de Minaur against girlfriend Katie Boulter. Djokovic will lead Serbia against China and the Czech Republic in Group E. While Poland and Spain will battle a wildcard team, to be determined in the next month, in Group A.
The action kicks off at RAC Arena on December 29, culminating in two quarterfinals on January 3 before the semi-finals and final unfold in Sydney.
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