
The United Cup is an international mixed-gender tournament that features teams representing their countries. This tournament combines men’s and women’s singles matches, as well as mixed doubles similar to the Davis Cup.
The United Cup was launched in 2022 as a joint effort by the ATP, WTA, and Tennis Australia. It is typically hosted at the beginning of the tennis season in January.
It is the first mixed-gender team event to award both ATP and WTA ranking points to its players, with winners receiving up to 500 points.
Qualification
18 countries qualify for the United Cup as follows:
- Six countries are determined by the ATP ranking of their No. 1 singles player
- Six countries are determined by the WTA ranking of their No. 1 singles player
- The final six countries are determined by the combined rankings of their number-one-ranked ATP and WTA players.
As the host nation, Australia is guaranteed one of the spots reserved for teams with the best-combined ranking, should it fail to qualify on its own.
Teams
The United Cup features 18 teams, each consisting of up to 3 male and 3 female players.
When the United Cup launched in 2023, each team had three singles specialists and one doubles specialist for each gender. Last year (2024) each team had two singles specialists and one doubles specialist for each gender.
Year | Singles Specialist | Doubles Specialist |
---|---|---|
2023 | 3 | 1 |
2024 | 2 | 1 |
Format
A round-robin format is a competition where each team or participant plays against every other team or participant in the group. After all matches are played, the team with the most wins or points typically advances or wins the event.
The United Cup begins with a group stage, featuring six groups of three countries, where teams compete against each other in a round-robin format.
Prize Money and Points
The United Cup awards players ATP and WTA points according to their gender. The prize money for the 2025 United Cup was $11,700,000 making it a major international tournament.
Prize Money Breakdown
Match wins
Round | No. 1 Player | Mixed Doubles |
---|---|---|
Final | $280,250 | $52,800 |
Semifinals | $147,500 | $27,650 |
Quarterfinals | $77,600 | $14,550 |
Group stage | $42,800 | $8,000 |
Team wins
Round | Prize money per player |
---|---|
Final | $25,850 |
Semifinal | $15,250 |
Quarterfinals | $8,950 |
Group stage | $5,600 |
United Cup vs Davis Cup?
The United Cup and Davis Cup are similar international tennis tournaments but here are their key differences.
Team Composition
United Cup: Each team has up to 3 male and 3 female players.
Davis Cup: Each team consists of male players only.
Format
United Cup: Mixed-gender team event, with both men and women competing for their countries in singles and doubles.
Davis Cup: Men’s competition only, with national teams competing in singles and doubles matches.
Team Event Structure
United Cup: Features a round-robin group stage followed by knockout rounds, with both singles and doubles matches.
Davis Cup: Matches are generally best-of-three sets, with a format involving singles and doubles ties over several days.
Prize Money
United Cup: Provides equal prize money for both male and female players, with rewards based on individual and team results.
Davis Cup: Offers prize money only to male players based on the team’s performance.
Ranking Points
United Cup: Both ATP and WTA ranking points are awarded to male and female players according to their gender.
Davis Cup: Only ATP ranking points are awarded to male players.
History
United Cup: A more modern event, launched in 2023 as a mixed-gender alternative to traditional single-gender team competitions such as Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.
Davis Cup: Founded in 1900, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious team competitions in tennis.
Read More
United Cup’s official websites
How do ATP and WTA rankings work?