The countdown is on to the inaugural United Cup, with Perth\u2019s RAC Arena hosting a week of thrilling world-class tennis from 29 December to 4 January as part of the event\u2019s group stage.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0United Cup<\/a>\u00a0is an exciting mixed team event that opens the 2023 tennis season in Australia.<\/p>\n It marks the return of top-level professional tennis to Western Australia for the first time in three years. And to celebrate, the United Cup is serving up free day session tickets in Perth for kids 14 and under.<\/p>\n > BUY NOW: United Cup \u2013 Perth tickets<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n If that is not enough to inspire local tennis fans to come along, here are many more reasons why the United Cup in Perth is the place to be this summer:<\/p>\n The No.1 seeds are in Perth An incredible line-up<\/strong> A new-look mixed team event<\/strong> Playing captains aplenty There are four playing captains in total in Perth, with Edouard Roger-Vasselin in charge of the French team. The 39-year-old Roger-Vasselin is a Grand Slam doubles champion who has been ranked as high as world No.6 in doubles. He was a mixed doubles finalist at the most recent Grand Slam tournament, reaching the US Open 2022 title match alongside Flipkens.<\/p>\n Former stars as captains A Perth reunion<\/strong> Exciting debuts Beginning with a bang<\/strong> Get your tickets
\n<\/strong>The tournament\u2019s top seeds, Greece, are among six nations scheduled to compete at RAC Arena. They\u2019ll be joined by Belgium and Bulgaria in Group A. Sixth seeds France landed in Group F alongside Argentina and Croatia.<\/p>\n
\nPerth will welcome four top-10 ranked players \u2013 the most of any city in the United Cup\u2019s group stage.
\nWorld No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas and world No.6 Maria Sakkari headline Greece\u2019s team, while world No.4 Caroline Garcia spearheads the French line-up. Belgium\u2019s Elise Mertens is currently ranked world No.5 in doubles and is a former world No.1.
\nFormer world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov is also heading west.<\/p>\n
\nThis is the first time Perth has hosted a mixed team event where players are competing for valuable ranking points. Players can earn up to 500 points each during the United Cup.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Perth is the only city hosting a group featuring three playing captains. Petros Tsitsipas, the younger brother of world No.4 Stefanos, is the playing captain for Greece in Group A. Kirsten Flipkens, a US Open 2022 mixed doubles finalist, is Belgium\u2019s captain, while former Australian Open semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov is leading Bulgaria.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Perth also boasts star power with its non-playing captains. Former world No.1 doubles player and Australian Open 2011 doubles champion Gisela Dulko will captain the Argentina team, while Roland Garros 1997 champion Iva Majoli is leading the Croatian contingent.<\/p>\n
\nPerth will welcome back several top-ranked players who have previously competed in the city. This includes Greek stars Sakkari and Tsitsipas, leading Belgium players David Goffin and Mertens, along with France\u2019s Garcia and Alize Cornet. Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, is returning for the first time in 11 years.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>There are also several accomplished players making their first competitive appearances in Perth. Borna Coric (Croatia), Petra Martic (Croatia), Donna Vekic (Croatia) and Flipkens (Belgium), who have all achieved top-20 singles rankings during their careers, are among the first-time visitors sure to impress fans.<\/p>\n
\nThe United Cup is serving up great tennis right from the start too. The opening day session of the tournament, on Thursday 29 December, could feature an exciting showdown between Tsitsipas and Dimitrov. They are their respective nation\u2019s most successful players in history \u2013 each achieving career-high rankings of world No.3 and winning ATP Finals titles. Both possess exquisite shot-making ability and beautiful one-handed backhands too.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Tickets for adults start from $40. Visit\u00a0Ticketek now<\/a>\u00a0to secure your seats at the United Cup this summer.<\/p>\n