Just enough time to put down the glass for the New Year’s toast, it will already be time for world tennis to start racing again. The first appointments of the new season, in fact, begin on January 2nd. In Perth and Sydney, Australia, the United Cupmixed team competition reserved for 18 national teams, including Italy. The Italian team, captained by Stefano Cobolliis formed by his son Flavio (n. 22), Jasmine Paolini (n. 8), Andrea Pellegrino (n. 140), Nuria Brancaccio (n. 152) and by the winning pair of mixed doubles at the US Open, Sara Errani-Andrea Vavassori. Italy has been included in group C, which will be played in Perth, together with Stan Wawrinka’s Switzerland, in his last year before retiring, and Belinda Bencic (no. 11), and France. They will play against the Swiss on January 4th starting at 10am Italian time while they will challenge the Transalpine team on January 6th at 3am.
Musetti in Hong Kong
Practically at the same time as the United Cup (from Monday 5 January) the first tournaments of 2026 will also begin, the 250th Brisbane e Hong Kong. In Australia (where Arnaldi and Bellucci should also enter the draw) the no. 1 is the no. 13 in the world Daniil Medvedev. In Hong Kong, however, he will be leading the ranks Lorenzo Musetti (n. 8) together with Lorenzo Sonego (n. 39 and n. 5 in the seeding). The presence of Bublik (n. 11) and Rublev (n. 16) is also expected.
Sinner, performances with Alcaraz in Seoul
The following week, starting January 12, two more 250s will begin: Adelaidein Australia, and Aucklandin New Zealand. They will be the last events before the expected first Slam of the year, the Australian Openwhich will start on the 18th. It will be the week of the official debut of Jannik Sinner who presents himself in Melbourne as the defending champion. The no. However, 1 blue will not stand by and watch. In preparation for the tournament he has scheduled two performances: the first, on January 10th in Seoul with his long-time rival Carlos Alcaraz, the second in Melbourne against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (n. 5).
