Big things are expected of Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu in 2026, and they will combine for their first tournament of the year at the United Cup.
Draper’s arm injury derailed his 2025, but before that he had a real breakout season with his victory at Indian Wells and his climb to the top four of the rankings.
Raducanu had a similarly impressive season by cracking the top 30 of the rankings for the first time since 2021 and likely earning seeded entry into the Australian Open.
Draper and Raducanu will play in the United Cup for Great Britain and their first opponents have now been revealed.
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper discover their first 2026 opponents
Great Britain drew Greece and Japan in the United Cup and now the draw has confirmed who they will play first.
Draper and Raducanu’s campaign will kick-off on January 4 against Japan at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Raducanu will face a tricky test against Naomi Osaka, although she will be buoyed by their only meeting going the way of the Brit.
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Raducanu defeated Osaka at the Washington Open in straight sets in one of her more impressive victories in 2025.
Draper, meanwhile, will face Shintaro Mochizuki, who currently occupies the World No. 100 position on the ATP Tour rankings.
Draper is yet to face Mochizuki, but he will enter the match 90 places above the Japanese star in the rankings.
Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu face a tough Greek test after Japan
One day later, on January 5, and Raducanu and Draper will be in action in the night session against a difficult Greece side.
Draper will play World No. 34 Stefanos Tsitsipas, to whom he is yet to lose to in their first two matches on the ATP Tour.
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Draper has beaten the Greek star in two ATP 1000 events, at the Canadian Open in 2022 and the Cincinnati Open in 2024.
Raducanu will play former world number three Maria Sakkari, who she has a surprisingly good record against.
The Brit has not dropped a single set to Sakkari in their four meetings, having defeated the Greek star at the US Open, Wimbledon, the Dubai Open, and the Washington Open.
