Team Bulgaria took some time out from their United Cup preparations to visit the stunning Cottesloe Beach in Perth Tuesday.

Led by top-ranked players Grigor Dimitrov and Viktoriya Tomova, the Bulgarian team greeted local surf life savers and got competitive with some beach games. “It’s fun when we can do some social activities, especially outside of the sport. I think everybody enjoyed it,” said former world No.3 Dimitrov. “The whole team is in good spirits. We’re trying to make the most of (our time in Perth) and looking forward to the competition.”

The United Cup, a mixed-team event consisting of 18 nations, begins on 29 December with round-robin matches in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.Each United Cup tie comprises two men’s and two women’s singles matches, as well as one mixed doubles match, played across two days. Four countries then advance to the knockout stage in Sydney, which runs from 6-8 January.

Team Bulgaria begins its campaign against top seeds Greece at Perth’s RAC Arena on Thursday, with Dimitrov scheduled to face world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening session. Dimitrov is looking to improve a 1-5 win-loss record against Tsitsipas.

Visit Bulgaria’s team page on unitedcup.com

“I think it’s a great match up. We’ve played a few times against each other and on quite a few occasions he got the best of me,” said Dimitrov. “But here is a different format and I have the team behind me, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Dimitrov, the playing captain for Team Bulgaria, is thrilled a mixed team event has been added to the tour schedule. “Everybody is excited. It’s a completely new format for everyone and it’s the first year, so we don’t know what to expect. But I’m very pleased we are able to team up together and make some new memories,” said the world No.28.

Tomova, the highest-ranked Bulgarian woman at world No.90, agrees. “I like it very much,” she said of the innovative new event. “Every week we play individually, so it’s great to team up with our Bulgarian team-mates and play for our country.”

The ATP Tour announced today a new partnership with PacificPine Sports (PPS) to create a range of world-class ATP-licensed tennis centres in China and Hong Kong.

The multi-year partnership, which begins in 2023, is an exciting opportunity for the ATP to engage with junior tennis players and young fans locally, expand opportunities in the sport, and for ATP Coach members to share their expert knowledge with players in a fast-growing region.

“We are thrilled to partner with PacificPine Sports to accelerate opportunities and share our expertise in Asia,” said Daniele Sano, ATP Tour Chief Business Officer. “This partnership will allow us to connect with aspiring players and passionate fans in an important market.”

The centres, which will be run by PPS, will offer members and local staff access to ATP Coaches, Alumni and Medical Services Team. PPS will have rights to use ATP Tour brand marks in promotional, advertising and marketing materials.

Daniele Sano, ATP Tour Chief Business Officer with Raymond Roessel, Founder & Co-CEO at PacificPine Sports Group.

The new partnership follows several successful collaborations between PPS and major global sports brands in the region, including the PGA of America and AC Milan. It builds on several decades of tennis development by ATP in the region.

“We are excited to work with the ATP Tour to bring world-class tennis experiences to China and Hong Kong,” said Raymond Roessel, Co-CEO of PPS. “We believe that this partnership will not only benefit our partner facilities, but also the ATP’s members and the wider tennis community and help continue to develop the sport in the region.”

About The ATP
As the global governing body of men’s professional tennis, the ATP’s mission is to serve tennis. We entertain a billion global fans, showcase the world’s greatest players at the most prestigious tournaments, and inspire the next generation of fans and players. From the United Cup in Australia, to Europe, the Americas and Asia, the stars of the game battle for titles and Pepperstone ATP Rankings points at ATP Masters 1000, 500 and 250 events, and Grand Slams. All roads lead towards the Nitto ATP Finals, the prestigious season finale held in Turin, Italy. Featuring only the world’s top 8 qualified singles players and doubles teams, the tournament also sees the official crowning of the year-end ATP World No. 1, presented by Pepperstone, the ultimate achievement in tennis. For more information, please visit www.ATPTour.com.

About PacificPine Sports
PacificPine Sports (PPS) is a leading sports training and management company in China. PPS has over 12,000 students, operates in 11 cities and offers classes and clinics at over 75 locations across China. PPS operates in four core sports verticals – Tennis in partnership with the ATP, – Golf in partnership with the PGA of America – Football in partnership with AC Milan and Basketball under Five-Star Basketball. PPS is headquartered in Shenzhen and Hong Kong with regional offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. For more information on our group and services, please visit www.pacificpinesports.com

With just two days to go until the inaugural edition of the United Cup, some of the competition’s biggest names hit the practice courts Tuesday seeking to find their rhythm ahead of their opening matches.

Nick Kyrgios was among the Team Australia stars hitting in Sydney. The 27-year-old will meet Team Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Thursday’s evening session on Ken Rosewall Arena in his first singles match in Group D. Kyrgios is part of a strong lineup for the host nation, which also features Ajla Tomljanovic and Alex de Minaur.

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Also putting herself through her paces in Sydney was two-time Wimbledon champion and WTA star Petra Kvitova. The 29-time tour-level titlist is part of a Team Czech Republic which takes on third-seeded Team USA in its opening tie in Group C. Kvitova will be supported by fellow WTA star Marie Bouzkova, while the Czechs’ ATP contingent is led by clean-hitting 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka.

_{^{Petra Kvitova took to the practice court on Tuesday in Sydney. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.}}

Some ATP and WTA stars took the chance to practise with teammates from the opposing Tour on Tuesday. One of them was the No. 10 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Hubert Hurkacz, who hit with his fellow Team Poland stars Magda Linette and Weronika Falkowsa in Brisbane.

The second-seeded Team Poland, which also features WTA World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, takes on Team Kazakhstan in their opening Group B match across Saturday and Sunday.

_{^{Team Poland’s Weronika Falkowska and Hubert Hurkacz practised together on Tuesday in Brisbane. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.}}

In Perth, Stefanos Tsitsipas enjoyed a practice session as he prepares to spearhead the top-seeded Team Greece’s title charge alongside the No. 6 in the WTA Rankings, Maria Sakkari. The current No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Tsitsipas faces Team Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in his opening singles battle at RAC Arena on Thursday. Sakkari’s opening match follows on Friday, when she meets Viktoriya Tomova in the Group A tie.

Meet The Countries Competing

^{_{Stefanos Tsitsipas practises on Tuesday in Perth. Photo Credit: Tennis Australia.}}

The United Cup will launch the 2023 season on both the ATP Tour and the WTA Tour, with 18 nations competing in six groups across Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Each tie will comprise of two ATP and two WTA singles matches, and one mixed doubles match.

Will team bonding lead to victory at the United Cup? Team Italy hopes so after exploring Brisbane on Tuesday.

“It’s beautiful to be here and to play a new mixed-teams event,” Matteo Berrettini said. “We’re happy and excited to play, and really looking forward to starting and seeing how the new format goes. It’s going to be exciting as I’ve never even played mixed doubles.”

Berrettini, Marco Bortolotti, Lucia Bronzetti, Lorenzo Musetti, Camila Rosatello, Martina Trevisan, Andrea Vavassori and captain Vincenzo Santopadre visited the New Farm Park River Hub boat dock. They spent some time on a boat and posed for photos with the city’s skyline in the background.

^{Photo Credit: Tennis Australia}
Everyone involved enjoyed the moment before the competition for the inaugural United Cup — and the season on the whole — heats up.

“We really enjoyed the boat today,” Trevisan said. “I’m very excited to be part of this team and we are looking forward to playing.”

Italy will open its tournament on Thursday against Team Brazil. Berrettini believes his team is ready.

“We are pushing each other to get better and better and achieve more,” Berrettini said. “So, when we play a team competition like the United Cup, it feels nice.”

^{Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic visit Sydney Harbour.}

^{Alexander Zverev hits on Tuesday in Sydney.}

^{Nick Kyrgios training on Tuesday in Sydney.}

^{Petra Kvitova trains in Sydney.}

^{Team Italy in Brisbane on Tuesday ahead of the United Cup.}

^{Jessica Pegula of Team United States and Harriet Dart of Team Great Britain hit together in Sydney.}

^{Team Australia visits Sydney Harbour.}

Photo Credit: TENNIS AUSTRALIA

Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic are among the stars leading Team Australia at the inaugural United Cup this week in Sydney. However, before play begins at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Thursday, the host nation took the opportunity to swap the practice courts for the city when they visited Campbells Cove on Tuesday.

De Minaur, Tomljanovic, Jason Kubler and Zoe Hives shared smiles and jokes before they posed for photos by the Sydney Harbour Bridge ahead of the 11-day event.

“We thrive playing for our country, representing the green and gold,” de Minaur said. “There is always a lot of passion and pride and it is a great time of the year. We are in the Aussie summer, ready to start 2023. There is no better place to be.”

“Aussies thrive in team competitions,” Tomljanovic said. “You see with the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup, we made finals and I don’t think many people would have picked us to be in the last two standing.

“When I played for Australia for the first time, the camaraderie and the vibe of the team over that week was great. We see each other a lot during the year but don’t get to talk much. But when we come together it is like we have never left, so it is something in the culture.”

The United Cup, a mixed-teams event consisting of 18 nations, will be contested in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, with four countries advancing to the knockout stage in Sydney. Each United Cup tie will comprise two men’s and two women’s singles matches and one mixed doubles match to be played across two days, with the tournament running from 29 December-8 January.

Team Australia, spearheaded by Nick Kyrgios, will start its title quest against Team Great Britain on Thursday evening. Team Spain, led by Rafael Nadal and Paula Badosa, are also in Group D.

“It is exciting,” de Minaur said. “It is a new event in tennis. Innovating in this great sport and I think it will bring a new audience. We have a tough group, but we are happy being the underdogs. We just have to give it our all, that’s all we can ask for ourselves.”

Photo Credits: TENNIS AUSTRALIA