Matthew Ebden Previews United Cup And Joins Local Ballkid Training In Perth

Matthew Ebden with ball kids (photo: Tennis Australia/Trevor Collens)

Tennis Australia Press Release, December 14, 2023

World No. 4 doubles tennis star Matt Ebden (WA) joined local ballkids at RAC Arena, ahead of the upcoming United Cup in his home city of Perth.

Ebden, who is currently at a career high doubles ranking, previewed the 2024 United Cup where he will line up as part of Team Australia alongside World No. 12 Alex de Minaur (NSW), Ajla Tomljanovic (Qld), World No. 1 doubles player Storm Hunter (WA), John Millman (Qld) and Ellen Perez (NSW).

Australia face Great Britain on the first day of play, Friday 29 December from 5pm AWST before playing defending champions, the United States on Monday 1 January. 

This year’s Perth ballkids crew will feature 76 juniors aged 12 to 16, after being selected from more than 260 applicants across trials and training held over the past few months.

In Perth, the United Cup group stage will run from Friday 29 December to Wednesday 3 January and will feature nine teams – Group A (Poland, Spain, Brazil), Group C (USA, Great Britain, Australia) and Group E (Czech Republic, China, Serbia). 

Six top 10 players, including world No.1’s Novak Djokovic (SRB) and Iga Swiatek (POL), World No. 5 Jessica Pegula (USA), World No. 10 Taylor Fritz (USA), World No. 7 Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) and World No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz (POL) will all compete in Western Australia. 

Similar to the Hopman Cup, each tie at the United Cup in 2024 will feature two singles matches and one mixed doubles match.

The best placing teams in each group will play off in quarterfinals on Wednesday 3 January at RAC Arena, with the best performing teams then progressing onto the Finals to be played at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney from Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 January.

Group stage tickets start at $40 for adults and $20 for children 14 years and under. more information visit UnitedCup.com.