It is all stations go for Australia at the United Cup, with the home nation set to kick off its campaign against Great Britain on Friday evening in front of a packed crowd at the RAC Arena in Perth.
The home favourites is in Group C alongside Great Britain and defending champions United States, with team captain and former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt relishing the challenge.
“It will be great,” Hewitt said in Australia’s pre-tournament press conference on Thursday. “I just really look forward to these people and the players enjoying it. There's nothing better than playing in front of big, packed crowds.
“I know from my experience always playing over here in Perth, the crowds come out in droves, always supporting our players. And I think the guys and girls are really going to feed off that in our first two matches. You never know, hopefully that puts us through to get us a better chance of getting to the quarters.”
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The 18-country mixed-teams event pits teams in six groups of three, with three matches taking place in each tie: one men’s singles, one women’s singles and a mixed doubles.
The format has the potential to draw up several storylines, one of which could result in long-term partners Alex de Minaur (Australia) and Katie Boulter (Great Britain) facing off. When asked about that possibility, both came out with fighting talk.
“I have played mixed in the past with Katie, so I know all her weaknesses,” de Minaur said “I've watched enough of her matches to know the spots to be attacking. If we step out on court, it's just all business.”
“I think whatever happens, it is going to be a great match,” Boulter said during Great Britain’s press conference. “I'll be playing completely seriously. Whoever plays with me, I'm sure will be working as hard as they can to get a win, just like I will be.”
Australia boasts an impressive number of mixed doubles options. Storm Hunter is No. 1 in the WTA Doubles Rankings, while Ellen Perez is No. 17. Both played at the GNP Seguros WTA Finals in Cancun in November. Matthew Ebden is No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings, having won five tour-level titles, including Wimbledon and Indian Wells.
Hewitt is pleased to have such good options at his disposal.
“It's always good to have good doubles players in these kind of formats,” Hewitt said. “I think we have a lot of options, too, in the doubles. It's a crucial one, isn't it? The singles is so important in the end if you're 2-0 up, but then 1-1, it's all on the line with the doubles. So the doubles specialists players have played some big matches in the past and especially this year.”
Preceding the mixed doubles will be two singles. British lefty Cameron Norrie defeated De Minaur at the United Cup last season and is looking forward to facing the 24-year-old again in front of a lively crowd.
“I'm really excited,” World No. 18 Norrie said. “I always have tough matches with Alex. We both know each other pretty well. We practise with each other a lot. I'm going to have to run a lot. I think both of us will. It's going to be a tough one. No better way to open up the match playing Australia here with this amazing stadium.
“I think it's going to be great. I think I'm going to have to embrace the crowd. The atmosphere hopefully is going to be really good. It's part of it. I played him in Sydney. The crowd was great there, too. I'm really just excited to feel the atmosphere and just really enjoy the team aspect of it.”
Australian Alja Tomljanovic is set to face World No. 56 Boulter in the women’s singles on Friday. The 30-year-old Tomljanovic missed the majority of last season due to injury and is pleased to be back on court.
“I think the month of January is always the month I want to do my best. That's never changed,” Tomljanovic said. “Having a bit of time off just makes me more motivated.
“I think I've played Katie a few times. Last time on grass, if I'm not mistaken. But she's coming off of her best year. It's going to be a really tough match. She's got a big game. I'm just looking forward to getting out there and doing my best.”
