(Tennis news) The 2023 international tennis season will begin with a new mixed $15m (£13m) tournament featuring 18 countries playing across three Australian cities. The inaugural edition of the United Cup will launch on December 29th with the final being held in Sydney on January 8th. Cities such as Brisbane and Perth will also host round-robin matches in the group stage, offering ATP and WTA ranking points to the four men and four women from each national team. 

The ATP Cup, which is set to be replaced with the United Cup, was an event from a joint venture by Tennis Australia and the men’s tour. The event featured several high profile players and a big prize money but failed to generate crowds and struggled with the logistical challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. The ATP Cup replaced the Hopman Cup which was an event held in Perth from 1989 to 2019. 

In comparison, the United Cup is an indication of the growing cooperation between the men’s and women’s tours. ATP chief Andrea Gaudenzi said “The United Cup marks a major step forward for the game of tennis. We're excited to see the best men's and women's players competing together, with ranking points on the line, to launch the season like never before." The United Cup will take place over a period of 11 days from Thursday, December 29 to Sunday, January 8. 

Also read: Davis Cup to be included in the ATP Tour calendar for 2023 season