Alex de Minaur and Olivia Gadecki spearhead Australia’s United Cup crew to face Nice Britain within the group stage in Sydney.
Melbourne, Australia, 21 October 2024 | Dan Imhoff@sydney_sider #feelnewsydney @WestAustralia #WATheDreamState pic.twitter.com/Nar8mjkCAX
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) October 21, 2024
The Australia v Nice Britain showdown additionally raises the chance that De Minaur might come up in opposition to his girlfriend Katie Boulter ought to each contest the blended doubles when the 2 nations meet at Ken Rosewall Area in January.
“Jack’s a very robust participant. He’s on the rise, he’s bought higher and higher the final three years now,” Australia’s Davis Cup coach Lleyton Hewitt mentioned. “He has a number of firepower; it’s going to be a tricky match.
“He and Alex have had some battles prior to now. Alex wasn’t at his greatest on the US Open bodily by quarterfinals time, [but] he’s had his quantity prior to now the place Alex has gained fairly a number of instances.
“It’s going to be problem for Alex first up for certain, after which Katie at a career-high rating in the meanwhile as nicely – for Olivia it’s an excellent alternative to play on Ken Rosewall Area and get publicity in opposition to these top-line gamers.”
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Former world No.1 Hewitt mentioned he was significantly impressed with De Minaur’s evolution as a participant this season given the top-ranked Aussie had added layers to his recreation.
The prospect of opening 2025 in opposition to world No.18 Draper was precisely the robust hit-out he desired in a bunch that might additionally function one of many remaining two groups to be added in late November.
“He’s capable of nonetheless preserve his unbelievable strengths, however he’s in a position so as to add in numerous dimensions to really successful these matches,” Hewitt mentioned. “He’s such a tough employee on the market. He gained’t sit again and relaxation on his laurels in any respect.
“He’ll go on the market and attempt to discover these 1 and a couple of per cents that he could make himself a greater participant. He’s been capable of construct a bit bit extra energy, a bit extra firepower, and we all know how nicely he strikes across the courtroom. He’s most likely utilizing his transition recreation to the web a bit bit extra on the proper instances and he’s assured in doing that. All indicators are main in the proper approach.”
Australia’s Olivia Gadecki returns the ball to Italy’s Martina Trevisan throughout the WTA 2024 girls’s singles quarterfinal match in Zapopan, Mexico, September 13, 2024. (Photograph by ULISES RUIZ / AFP) (Photograph by ULISES RUIZ/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Casey Dellacqua, a former world No.26 in singles and No.3 in doubles, mentioned the United Cup offered an opportunity for a lot of Australians to see the inroads 22-year-old Gadecki had made in her career-best season, which included a maiden WTA remaining in Guadalajara, when she meets Boulter first up.
“She likes to face up on the baseline, she’s a very sturdy hitter of the ball,” Dellacqua mentioned of the world No.83. “She’s bought a large function nicely, so she’s all the time searching for that serve and that plus-one, that subsequent shot, to actually be tremendous aggressive with, so I believe we’re going to see some big-hitting tennis.
“She’s began to seek out her toes with reference to when to go large and when to only work the purpose and I believe that simply comes from years on tour. I believe we’re going to see some actually explosive tennis from Olivia.”
Additionally in Sydney, Poland headlines Group B with Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, whereas Italy headlines Group D with Jasmine Paolini and Flavio Cobolli.
Defending champion Germany, with Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund, heads to Perth and can compete in Group E in opposition to Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen’s China and top-10 star Beatriz Haddad Maia’s Brazil.
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz spearhead america crew in Group A in Perth, the place Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari may even lead Greece into battle in Group C.
United Cup Perth and Sydney finals tickets on sale now.
