Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper to represent Great Britain at the United Cup
Britain’s tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper will unite to compete for Great Britain at the United Cup this January, marking their inaugural appearance at the mixed-gender tournament, reports BritPanorama.
The nation’s leading players in both WTA and ATP rankings concluded their 2025 campaigns prematurely owing to injury concerns. The tournament will kick off on 2 January across Australian venues in Sydney and Perth, signalling a fresh chapter for British representation at the event.
This year’s competition represents a departure from previous squad compositions, where Katie Boulter featured prominently, often facing uncomfortable matchups against partners like Alex de Minaur when competing against Australia.
Both players have confirmed their participation with official statements expressing their anticipation for the competition. “I’m honoured to be able to make my United Cup debut in January,” Raducanu stated, highlighting the opportunity to represent Team GB. “It’s great to be able to experience a new format on the tour, represent my country and spend a couple extra weeks in Australia,” she added.
Draper echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I am excited to get back on court and compete in the United Cup. I’ll be looking out for the draw to see if Team GB will play in Perth or Sydney. I haven’t been to either, so it will be nice to compete in a brand new city in Australia.”
This tournament will mark their first competitive appearances following injury-disrupted campaigns that curtailed their 2025 seasons. Draper’s troubles began with an arm injury after Wimbledon, which led to a seven-week absence before returning at the US Open. Despite reaching the mixed doubles semi-finals with Jessica Pegula, his singles run ended abruptly after just one match due to bone bruising in his left arm.
Raducanu faced her own challenges, noticeably struggling during the Asian tour where she squandered match points in two defeats. Her campaign concluded following an unexpected early departure from the Ningbo Open, where medical staff monitored her condition during play.
Before heading to Australia, both players have scheduled preparatory appearances to regain match fitness. Draper will compete at the UTS London exhibition in December, whilst Raducanu is set for a single exhibition matchup against Amanda Anisimova in Miami.
These warm-up events precede their journey to Australia for the United Cup, which serves as crucial preparation for the Australian Open. The tournament will host other notable competitors, including Poland’s world number two, Iga Swiatek, alongside Hubert Hurkacz, while Australia will field Alex de Minaur and Maya Joint. Group stage matches will be split between Sydney and Perth, with the draw determining Britain’s venue allocation.
As excitement builds around the United Cup, it’s clear that both Raducanu and Draper are keen to shed the weight of previous injuries and embrace new competitive challenges on the Australian stage. The juxtaposition of fresh opportunity against the backdrop of past struggles will be watched closely — an intriguing narrative as the duo aims to write a new chapter in British tennis.
