New Year and Tennis Excitement in Australia
As the new year begins in Australia, tennis enthusiasts are treated to delightful photos of players taking selfies with local marsupials.
In Perth, Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu enjoyed their time with the adorable quokkas on Rottnest Island, which might just be the cutest of all marsupials. Raducanu expressed her awe, saying, “Seeing a quokka for the first time is amazing. I wish I could have stayed longer.” Osaka added, “This island is beautiful, and I’m glad I could visit.”
On New Year’s Eve, they were just tourists soaking up the sun, sand, and the charming wildlife. The upcoming Friday marks the start of the United Cup, where Osaka and Team Japan will face Team Greece.
The tournament features 18 countries, with both men and women competing for nearly $12 million in prize money from January 2 to 11 in Perth and Sydney. The United States is the reigning champion.
Meanwhile, Canada and China, set to face off in Sydney on Sunday, visited the Sydney Zoo, where they captured some memorable moments with koalas and kangaroos. Victoria Mboko from Canada, currently ranked No. 18, expressed her excitement about participating in this event and noted the numerous new experiences awaiting her.
In addition to the United Cup, two more WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz events are set to kick off: the Brisbane International 500 on Sunday and the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, on Monday. Friday’s highlight match features Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam titleholder, as she plays against veteran Maria Sakkari in the United Cup.
Following the birth of her daughter in the summer of 2023, Osaka’s ranking has risen to No. 16. Notably, she is poised to reclaim her competitive edge in Melbourne after a successful run to the semifinals at the 2025 US Open. The two players haven’t met in almost five years, but Osaka leads their head-to-head series 3-2 and holds a victory in their only match on Australian soil.
Upcoming Matches and Events
Day 1 Schedule in Perth, RAC Arena
Group A: Spain vs. Argentina
Start Time: 10 a.m. local, 9 p.m. ET
Women’s singles: Jessica Bouzas Maneiro vs. Solana Sierra
Men’s singles: Jaume Munar vs. Sebastian Baez
Mixed doubles: [10] J. Bouzas Maneiro / J. Munar vs. [14] Marie Lourdes Carle / Guido Andreozzi
Group E: Greece vs. Japan
Start Time: Not before 5 p.m. local, 4 a.m. ET
Women’s singles: Maria Sakkari vs. Naomi Osaka
Men’s singles: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Shintaro Mochizuki
Mixed doubles: [12] M. Sakkari / S. Tsitsipas vs. [13] Osaka / S. Mochizuki
Looking Ahead: United Cup and Other Events
The United Cup in Sydney runs from January 3 to 11, with semifinals and finals set for January 10-11. Major teams include Canada, Australia, and last year’s champions, Germany.
The Brisbane International from January 4 to 11 will feature seven of the Top 10 women, including current No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who is defending her previous title.
Finally, the ASB Classic in Auckland from January 5 to 11 is set to showcase top seeds Elina Svitolina and Emma Navarro, alongside emerging talents like Iva Jovic and Venus Williams, who has accepted a wild card entry.
