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United Cup 2026: Which stars are playing in the tournament? How to watch in India?

The 2026 tennis season kicks off with the United Cup, running from January 2 to January 11 across Perth and Sydney. Fans can watch the tournament on SonyLIV, via OTTplay Premium.

Koushik Biswas
Jan 02, 2026
United Cup 2026: Which stars are playing in the tournament? How to watch in India?
Tennis stars like Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz will be in action in United Cup 2026.

The 2026 tennis season has officially commenced with the fourth edition of the United Cup a premier mixed-team event that has quickly become the favorite curtain-raiser for the Australian summer. Running from January 2 to January 11, 2026, the tournament spans two iconic cities, Perth and Sydney, and brings together the biggest names from both the ATP and WTA tours in a high-stakes battle for national glory.

Watch the Australian Open 2026 with OTTplay Premium. Get JioHotstar, Fancode, SonyLIV, and enjoy every sport available on these platforms on a single app.

Tournament details

Tournament: United Cup 2026

Dates: January 2 to January 11, 2026

Read Also: Australian Open 2026: When and where to watch in India?

Where can I watch the United Cup 2026 online?

Tennis fans in India can watch the United Cup 2026 live on SonyLIV via OTTplay Premium. Due to the time difference with Australia, morning sessions in Perth and Sydney typically will start around 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM IST while evening sessions begin around 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM IST.

The star-studded lineup

The 2026 edition boasts one of the deepest fields in the tournament’s history, featuring five of the world’s top 10 men and four of the top 10 women.

  • Team USA (The defenders): Led by world No. 3 Coco Gauff and world No. 6 Taylor Fritz the Americans are the heavy favorites to defend the title they reclaimed in 2025.
  • Poland’s powerhouse: World No. 2 Iga Swiatek returns alongside Hubert Hurkacz forming perhaps the most balanced and dangerous duo in the competition.
  • Japan’s historic debut: In a massive boost for the tournament, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is making her United Cup debut, leading Team Japan alongside Shintaro Mochizuki.

  • European giants: Germany is spearheaded by Alexander Zverev while Greece brings back the popular pairing of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. Italy, a consistent threat, is led by Wimbledon and Roland Garros finalist Jasmine Paolini.
  • Hometown heroes: Australia is relying on the speed of Alex de Minaur and the rising talent of Maya Joint the nation's new top-ranked woman.
  • Other notable stars include Emma Raducanu (Great Britain), Casper Ruud (Norway), and the evergreen Stan Wawrinka who is captaining and playing for Switzerland.

    Read also: 5 biggest sports events to watch out for in 2026

    Tournament format

    The 18 countries are divided into six groups of three. The round-robin format ensures every tie is a "mini-event," consisting of:

  • Men’s Singles Match
  • Women’s Singles Match
  • Mixed Doubles Match (the ultimate decider if the singles are split)
  • Group winners and the best runner-up from each city advance to the quarterfinals, with the semifinals and the grand final taking place at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.

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