Greek duo Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari will team once again when the United Cup kicks off the 2025 season on 27 December.
Paris Olympics gold medallist Zheng Qinwen and World No. 9 in the PIF ATP Rankings Casper Ruud will also return to lead China and Norway, respectively.
Tsitsipas and Sakkari have helped Team Greece to the knockout stages in the previous two editions of the tournament, without tasting ultimate success.
Tsitsipas is hoping the strong team culture he and Sakkari have built so far at the United Cup will hold Team Greece in good stead for 2025.
“The team we have built with Maria over the last few years is definitely one that gives us a lot of opportunities to go big and create a lot of damage on the field,” he said. “Getting the opportunity to have a lot of good individuals within one team gives us a lot of motivation and a lot of reasons to go out there and fight for our best.”
A sense of patriotism keeps bringing the World No. 12 Tsitsipas back to the United Cup.
“Representing Team Greece in a team competition like that at the beginning of the year is something that allows me to be really patriotic and start the year very strong,” he said. “Knowing that we come from a country rich in history and good traditions and values when it comes to sports is an extra reason to go out there and represent tennis, try and do as good as we can to uplift tennis and bring its highest value in our country.”
Tournament Director Stephen Farrow believes the combination of Tsitsipas and Sakkari perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of the international mixed-teams event.
“Tsitsipas and Sakkari qualified Greece at the first two editions of the United Cup. They are both fan favourites and are looking forward to starting their year with us in 2025,” he said.
“The Greek fans in both Perth and Sydney have supported the United Cup with great passion. They bring an unrivaled energy in support of their country’s biggest sporting stars, which is the essence of the United Cup.”
Meanwhile, World No. 7 Zheng led Team China to a United Cup quarter-final berth earlier this year and has ensured China’s qualification once again.
“I’m delighted to be able to qualify China again for the United Cup,” said Zheng, the first Chinese player in history to win an Olympic tennis medal in singles. “The United Cup presents a unique opportunity to play for our country in a mixed team environment, similar to the Olympics, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this experience together.”
Farrow is grateful a player of Zheng’s quality has recommitted to compete at the United Cup.
“Zheng has had an incredible 2024. She reached the final of the Australian Open in January, won gold in Paris and has maintained her Top 10 ranking throughout the year,” said Farrow of the player who also recently reached the US Open quarter-finals. “She’s a great player and a big personality and it’s fantastic to welcome her back to the United Cup.”
Ruud is also set to feature at the tournament as he headlines Norway’s third United Cup campaign. The 25-year-old went undefeated in his singles matches at the last United Cup and took the Norwegians to the quarter-finals.
“Casper Ruud’s consistent results on the Tour has again allowed Norway to secure their position at the United Cup for another year. Ruud’s early commitment recognises the value in participating in global team competitions,” Farrow said.
The 2025 United Cup starts on 27 December and features 18 countries battling it out across both Sydney and Perth. The champions will be crowned in the final on 5 January.
