A star-studded field has been named for the inaugural United Cup, an annual mixed team event set to be played in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from Thursday 29 December to Sunday 8 January 2023.

Entries from the top 16 countries have been announced today, with Team Greece, led by world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas and [6] Maria Sakkari named as the top seeds.

World No.1 Iga Swiatek and [11] Hubert Hurkacz will lead No.2-seeded Poland, with third seeded United States featuring a wealth of talent, including world No.3 Jessica Pegula, ninth-ranked Taylor Fritz, world No.11 Madison Keys and the charismatic showman, world No.19 Frances Tiafoe.

The legendary Rafael Nadal will team up with world No.13 Paula Badosa to fly the flag for Spain, while emerging tennis powerhouse Italy will star world No.16 Matteo Berrettini and Martina Trevisan.

France rounds out the top six seeds, led by WTA Finals winner and world No.4 Caroline Garcia and Arthur Rinderknech.

Nick Kyrgios, Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur will don the green and gold to represent Australia.
Other notable entries include Norway’s world No.4 Casper Ruud, Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic and Stan Wawrinka, along with Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.
The top six WTA ranking-qualified countries, top five ATP ranking-qualified countries and the top five combined entry countries have been admitted to the competition.

The final two remaining countries (one ATP and one combined entry) will be admitted to the competition on Monday 21 November, based on the rankings published on this date.

P= Protected ranking, J= Junior ranking, *= Doubles ranking

“The playing group is very excited about the United Cup, and that’s confirmed in the high quality and calibre of those who’ve committed to the event. We are delighted with the depth and breadth of the teams, and we can look forward to many exciting match ups and lots of entertaining tennis,” United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow said.

“The United Cup also marks the return of international tennis to Brisbane and Perth and we know the fans can’t wait to soak up all the action. All three cities will relish the opportunity to see the world’s best players unite and compete side by side as we launch the tennis season globally here in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.”

The United Cup, an ATP-WTA event presented in partnership with Tennis Australia, offers USD $15 million in prize money and up to 500 Pepperstone ATP Rankings and 500 WTA Rankings points.

Brisbane, Perth and Sydney will each host two groups of three countries competing in a round-robin format from 29 December to 4 January. Each tie comprises two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match.

The winners of each group will play off, with the city winners advancing to the United Cup Final Four in Sydney to be played from 6 to 8 January. The next best performing team from the group stages will complete the quartet.

Today the official draw will reveal the city where each team will play this summer. Watch the draw live from 2.00pm AEDT on the United Cup Facebook page.

Note: Player participation is subject to change.

Jack Draper held firm in the face of a strong start from Chun-Hsin Tseng on Wednesday at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, where the Briton completed a 1-4, 4-2, 4-3(2), 4-2 round-robin victory.

It was a crucial win for the 20-year-old as he seeks to progress to the semi-finals on debut at the 21-and-under season finale. Draper now owns a 1-1 record in Red Group, and he was delighted with the way he had bounced back against Tseng, having fallen to Dominic Stricker in his opening match.

“I thought Stricker played an amazing match yesterday, so all credit to him,” said Draper after his 93-minute triumph against Tseng. “I maybe wasn’t at my best, but I thought he played an exceptionally good match so it was tough to go to sleep last night knowing that I played OK and still lost.

“Today I knew it would be a really tough match and I came out a bit slow but I had a good talking to myself and tried to really find a way. I was able to do that today so I’m really happy.”

A rapid opening saw Tseng strike the ball more consistently than Draper in the pair’s first tour-level meeting. The 21-year-old from Chinese Taipei stayed solid to nullify his opponent’s power and clinched the only break of a 17-minute first set as the quicker shot clock (just 15 seconds if the server hits an ace, a double fault or if the returner misses the return through forced or unforced error) contributed to the intense speed of the match.

Draper found rhythm behind his big lefty forehand at the start of the second set, however, and it became the dominant weapon in the match thereafter. The Briton bludgeoned 19 winners, including six aces, as his superior power ultimately proved decisive.

“It’s a quick format, so you need to be sharp,” said Draper. “When I sat down for the change of ends at the end of the first set, I had a real go at myself. I said, ‘You’ve got to be sharper, you’ve got to be more switched on and you’ve got to be alert out here’, because it can go very quickly if you’re not quite all there. So, I’m glad I mentally turned things round.”

Draper’s win opens the door for Lorenzo Musetti to seal his semi-final spot on Wednesday evening. The home favourite takes on Dominic Stricker in the final match of the day at the Allianz Cloud, where he can seal his progress from the round-robin stage with a straight-sets victory against the Swiss.

Brandon Nakashima is on a roll once again at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals.

The 2021 semi-finalist moved to a 2-0 record at this year’s edition of the 21-and-under season finale with a commanding 4-1, 4-3(2), 4-2 victory against Jiri Lehecka on Wednesday in Milan.

With the unique first-to-four-games set format in place, Nakashima’s destructive early hitting earned him the first set in just 17 minutes at the Allianz Cloud. The fourth seed’s forehand remained a particularly potent weapon throughout his first tour-level meeting with Lehecka, who recovered a 1-3 deficit to force a second-set tie-break. The 20-year-old Czech then led 2-0 in the third set, but was unable to maintain the pressure on his free-flowing opponent.

“Going into it, I knew it was going to be another tough match for sure,” said Nakashima after his 69-minute victory. “He plays a very solid game, very flat, a very progressive game, so I knew I had to minimise the errors on my side and try to be aggressive off the first ball as much as possible. I thought I did that pretty well today, so [I am] happy to get the win.”

Nakashima struck 21 winners, including seven aces, and converted four of 10 break points during his victory. He later credited his hard-fought five-set win over Matteo Arnaldi on Tuesday with helping him hit his stride against Lehecka.

“I think yesterday helped me a lot today,” said Nakashima. “I was a lot more used to the conditions out here. Playing a long match out here, extra time getting used to the court and the crowd out here. I thought today I played really well and I’m going to try to keep it going.”

Nakashima is now 2-0 in Green Group, although he is not yet assured of a semi-final spot. The 21-year-old takes on Francesco Passaro in his final round-robin match on Thursday, when Lehecka will also be in action against Arnaldi.

Rafael Nadal has hit the ground running in Turin. The legendary Spaniard practised on Wednesday at the Pala Alpitour ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals with first-time qualifier Taylor Fritz of the United States.

Nadal is a 17-time qualifier for the season finale. The 36-year-old, who will pursue his first title at the event next week, was thumping forehands on Centre Court in preparation for the year-end championships.

“It’s always great news to be playing the last event of the year. That says that you had a great season, so I’m excited,” Nadal said. “Italy is a very close country for me. Being in Turin for the first time in my life, it’s a new experience, so I’m very happy for that and i’m looking forward to seeing the stadium and the fans. I’ll try my best as always.”

This year’s Australian Open and Roland Garros champion was training under the watchful eyes of his coaching staff, including Carlos Moya, Francisco Roig and Marc Lopez. Across the net was Fritz, the man he played in the final of this year’s BNP Paribas Open and his coach, Michael Russell.

It has been a breakthrough season for the American, who cracked the Top 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time on 10 October after lifting the trophy in Tokyo.

Fritz arrives in Turin with 43 tour-level wins this year, the most in his career. He will try to make a deep run at the season finale as the eighth seed.

The world’s best players will compete at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin next week, with Rafael Nadal pursuing his first title at the season finale and Novak Djokovic chasing his record-tying sixth.

When is the Nitto ATP Finals?

The 2022 Nitto ATP Finals will be held from 13-20 November. The indoor hard-court event, established in 1970, will take place at the Pala Alpitour in Turin. The tournament director is Adam Hogg.

What is the format & who is playing at the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals?

The event in Turin will see eight players divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz will compete.

When is the draw for the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals?

The Turin draw will be made on Thursday 10 November at 12 p.m.

What is the schedule for the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals?

* Main Draw Round-Robin Matches: Sunday 13 November – Friday 18 November. Afternoon session starts at 11:30 a.m. (doubles), 2 p.m. (singles). Evening session not before 6:30 p.m. (doubles), not before 9 p.m. (singles).
* Semi-finals: Saturday 19 November. Afternoon session starts at 11:30 a.m. (doubles), 2 p.m. (singles). Evening session not before 6:30 p.m. (doubles), not before 9 p.m. (singles). 
* Final: Sunday 20 November. Doubles final at 4 p.m. and singles final at 7 p.m. 

View On Official Website

What is the prize money for the Nitto ATP Finals?

The prize money for the Nitto ATP Finals is $14,750,000

Singles
Undefeated Champion: $4,740,300
Final Win: $2,200,400
Semi-Final Win: $1,070,000
Each Round-Robin Match Win: $383,300
Participation Fee: $320,000
Alternate: $150,000

Doubles (per team)
Undefeated Champion: $930,300
Final Win: $350,400
Semi-Final Win: $170,000
Each Round-Robin Match Win: $93,300
Participation Fee: $130,000
Alternate: $50,000

How can I watch the Nitto ATP Finals?

View TV Schedule

How can I follow the Nitto ATP Finals?

Hashtag: #NittoATPFinals
Facebook: Nitto ATP Finals
Twitter: @atptour
Instagram: @nittoatpfinals

Who won the last edition of the Nitto ATP Finals in 2021?

Alexander Zverev won the 2021 singles title in Turin with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Daniil Medvedev in the championship match (Read & Watch).

Who holds the Nitto ATP Finals record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (6)
Oldest Champion: Roger Federer, 30, in 2011
Youngest Champion: John McEnroe, 19, in 1978
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1s Ilie Nastase (1973), Jimmy Connors (1977), Bjorn Borg (1979-80), John McEnroe (1984), Ivan Lendl (1985-87), Pete Sampras (1994, 1996-97), Lleyton Hewitt (2002), Roger Federer (2004, 2006-07), Novak Djokovic (2012, 2014-15) and Andy Murray (2016)
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 12 David Nalbandian in 2005
Last Home Champion: Andy Murray in London in 2016
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (59)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

On Wednesday at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, three players will have an opportunity to clinch a place in the semi-finals with one match to spare.

Jiri Lehecka is the only man to hold his fate in his own hands on Day 2, as a win against Brandon Nakashima in three or four sets would see him through. Nakashima and Lorenzo Musetti could also book their tickets to the semis with wins, but both would need help from other results.

Here’s what to watch as the action continues at the Allianz Cloud in Milan.

View Schedule | View Draw

[4] Brandon Nakashima (USA) vs. [5] Jiri Lehecka (CZE)

Nakashima and Lehecka, both 21, earned contrasting wins against Italian opposition on Day 1. The American needed five sets and more than two hours to edge Matteo Arnaldi, while Lehecka dismissed Francesco Passaro in straight sets. The Czech’s dominant victory earned him the top position in the Green Group, while Nakashima sits second.

The winner of their Day 2 meeting — the first ATP Head2Head matchup between the pair — will stand alone as the group’s one remaining undefeated player.

Nakashima is seeking to return to the Milan semi-finals in his second appearance at the event, while Lehecka looks to stay undefeated in his debut. The Czech will be playing for his 12th tour-level victory; he earned his first ATP Tour wins in February in a breakout run to the Rotterdam semi-finals as a qualifier at the ATP 500.

While a Lehecka victory in three or four sets would secure the Czech’s position in the semis, Nakashima would need a win coupled with a victory by Arnaldi to be assured of a spot in the knockout rounds by day’s end. If Passaro defeats Arnaldi in Wednesday’s opening match, any manner of victory for Lehecka would see him advance on the spot.

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[8] Francesco Passaro (ITA) vs. [9] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)

This all-Italian matchup of Milan debutants will be a high-stakes affair, with the loser facing a major uphill battle to qualify for the semi-finals from 0-2. Passaro, who earned his first ATP Tour win earlier this season in Florence, will hope to earn another victory on home soil against his countryman.

Arnaldi fell just short of his first tour-level win on Day 1 against Nakashima, failing to convert on multiple set points to secure a two-set lead against the American before losing in five. But despite being the last man into the Milan field, the 21-year-old showed he belonged and gave the Italian crowd plenty to cheer about with his electric shotmaking.

The 21-year-olds have met once before on the ATP Challenger Tour, also in Italy, with Arnaldi earning a straight-sets win in March in Roseto Degli Abruzzi.

[2] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. [7] Dominic Stricker (SUI)

World No. 23 Musetti is the highest-ranked man in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings competing in Milan. Add in his home-court advantage and red-hot form and it’s clear why the Italian is among the favourites to lift the title on Saturday.

After winning his second ATP Tour title in Naples in October and upsetting Casper Ruud to reach the Paris quarter-finals last week, he opened his second Milan appearance with a straight-sets win against Chun-Hsin Tseng. Musetti would clinch a spot in the semis if he and Tseng both win on Tuesday. He could also advance with a Jack Draper win, though the scenarios are more complicated. (Read the full semi-final qualification scenarios.)

Dominic Stricker, who won three tie-breaks to defeat third seed Draper at the close of Day 1, will seek to complete an upset double against Musetti. A win would give him victories against the two highest-ranked players in the Milan draw.

[3] Jack Draper (GBR) vs. [6] Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE)

Draper and Tseng will both seek bounce-back wins in  a rematch of the 2018 Wimbledon junior singles final, won in three sets by Tseng. While both men flashed their brilliance for stretches on Tuesday, neither could claim a set on Day 1. Draper suffered a hard-luck loss against Stricker, while Tseng won just six games against second seed Musetti.

While there are no home favourites in this evening-session opener, Draper has enjoyed strong results in Italy this season, posting a 16-2 Challenger record and claiming three indoor titles in the European nation.

Tseng hopes to represent Asia well in Milan as the second man from the continent to compete at the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals, joining 2017 champion Hyeon Chung.