2023
Australia participated in the inaugural edition of the 2023 United Cup tournament as hosts. They were paired with Great Britain and Spain in Group D, hosted in Sydney. Number one ranked ATP player, Nick Kyrgios pulled out on the eve of the competition due to injury [6] and the number one ranked WTA player, Ajla Tomljanovic whilst still on the team list, was unable to compete in the event, also due to a knee injury. [7] Neither player would then go on to play the 2023 Australian Open as a consequence of those injuries. [8] [9]
Australia's first match was against Great Britain, which they lost 2–3.
After Great Britain went on to defeat Spain, Australia then beat Spain in the final tie of the Group in which neither team could advance to the knockout stages. Australia won the tie 3–2, notably with Alex de Minaur beating Rafael Nadal in the first match of the tie. [10] [11]
2024
For the second edition of the Cup, the format changed to three rubbers per tie instead of five. This included one men's singles, one women's singles and a mixed doubles match. Australia announced their team on 19 October 2023, with Alex De Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic their top rated singles players. Other members of the squad included John Millman, Matt Ebden, Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez. [12]
Australia was drawn to play in Perth in Group C, once again facing Great Britain as well as defending champions United States. [13] In a very difficult group, Australia lost their first tie against Great Britain 1–2 with Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden winning their mixed doubles rubber. In the tie against the United States, Alex De Minaur won his singles match against Taylor Fritz and Ajla Tomljanovic lost her match against Jessica Pegula, thus resulting in a decisive doubles match. Australia were victorious in straight sets, progressing to the knockout stage as a result of superior sets won percentage as all three teams were equal on ties won and matches won.
Australia progressed comfortably through their quarterfinals tie, defeating Serbia 3–0, with De Minaur recording a straight sets win over world number 5, Novak Djokovic. Tomljanovic also recorded a straight sets win in her singles match as did the doubles pairing of Hunter and Ebden. Australia then travelled to Sydney for the semifinals stage of the tournament. They were drawn against Germany, after the Germans defeated Greece 2–1 in their corresponding quarterfinal tie. Tomljanovic lost to former world number 1, Angelique Kerber in an epic three set match, losing the tie-breaker 9–7 after having two match points herself. De Minaur then dispatched Alexander Zverev in three sets, after losing the first set. The doubles match produced a very tight affair with the first two sets going to tie-breaks, with each winning one set. This resulted in a marathon 28 point match break, with Germany being the victors (15–13). [14]
