The opening few months of the 2026 calendar is already starting to take shape, with several big name stars already naming their schedules.
The short tennis off-season has been filled with exhibition matches, but it will soon be the start of a busy 2026.
Venus Williams will return to WTA Tour action at the ASB Classic, while Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper are also set to return at the United Cup.
The United Cup will now feature several legends, including Stan Wawrinka and Lleyton Hewitt, who have been confirmed as coaches.
Several legends sign up to the 2026 United Cup
The United Cup is the star-studded first tournament of the 2026 calendar, with the likes of Coco Gauff, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Iga Swiatek representing their countries.
The coaches for the tournament will feature some of the biggest names in tennis, including Australia’s Hewitt, Great Britain’s Henman, and Switzerland’s Wawrinka.
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Flavio Cobolli’s father, Stefano, will be Italy’s coach, while current player Tallon Griekspoor will represent the Netherlands as a player and a coach.
Other coaches include the United States’ Michael Russell, Greece’s Petros Tsitsipas, and Germany’s Alexander Zverev Sr.
The United Cup begins the Australia leg of the calendar on January 2, with joint events taking place in Perth and Sydney.
The history of the United Cup
The United Cup was introduced in 2023 as a natural successor to the ATP Cup, and it has taken place in Australia since its launch.
The United States have dominated the tournament, winning two out of the last three years thanks to performances from the likes of Taylor Fritz and Gauff.
Germany are the only other winners of the tournament after the nation lifted the trophy in 2024 after Alexander Zverev defeated Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the final.
The tournament offers up to 500 ranking points for both ATP and WTA stars, which is part of the reason some of the biggest stars in the world sign up for the event.
