Australia will enter the 2027 United Cup with a new-look squad, as Rinky Hijikata and Talia Gibson prepare to lead the host nation following Alex de Minaur's withdrawal.

The draw was announced on Thursday, with 18 nations confirmed for the mixed-team tournament across Sydney and Perth from January 1–10.

De Minaur has represented Australia in all four editions of the United Cup since its introduction in 2023, but will miss the tournament for the first time as he takes a different approach to his Australian Open preparations.

His absence opens the door for world No.59 Hijikata to step into Australia's leading men's singles role, with the 25-year-old set to make his United Cup debut alongside Gibson.

Australia has been drawn in Group D alongside Great Britain and France, with its matches to be played at Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena.

The hosts will face a challenging group, with Great Britain naming former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and France selecting Arthur Fils as one of its leading players.

However, both Hijikata and Gibson enter the competition following impressive 2026 campaigns, having made significant progress on the international circuit.

Hijikata recently claimed one of the biggest victories of his career, stunning 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters. He backed up the result with a three-set victory over world No.29 Tomas Martin Etcheverry before falling in the quarter-finals.

The run saw him climb to a ranking of No.59, finishing inside the world's top 60 for the first time.

It marked a strong finish to the season for Hijikata, who had struggled with injuries throughout 2025.

The Australian will now have an opportunity to carry that form into the summer, with the United Cup providing valuable match experience against international opposition.

Hijikata said representing his country on home soil was an opportunity he was excited to embrace.

"I've said it a lot before, but putting on the green and gold is probably the biggest honour you can have as an Australian athlete and any chance you get to do that is special," he said, via Tennis Australia. 

Gibson has also enjoyed a breakthrough season, climbing from outside the world's top 100 to a career-high ranking of No.36.

The 22-year-old recorded victories over five top-20 opponents over a three-week period, establishing herself as one of Australia's leading female players.

Gibson said making her United Cup debut was a special moment after a successful year on tour.

"Being able to represent your country, it's the highest honour. I think it's an extremely special moment," Gibson said.

"I'm very proud of what I've achieved so far and I'm really looking forward to starting next year in the green and gold."

Her selection will see her take on some established international names, with Raducanu and France's Diane Parry among her potential opponents in the women's singles.

The Australian pair will be supported by Daria Saville, Alex Bolt, Marc Polmans and Ellen Perez, who complete the six-player squad.

Australia's hopes of progressing beyond the group stage will depend on performances in both singles and mixed doubles, with each tie consisting of three matches.

The tournament's format means the strength of the overall team will be just as important as individual rankings, giving Australia opportunities beyond the men's singles despite de Minaur's absence.

Australia has reached the United Cup semi-finals once in the tournament's four previous editions and will be looking to improve on that record in 2027.

While Australia prepares for a fresh campaign, several of the world's leading players have been confirmed for the tournament.

The United States will be led by Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton, with the two-time champions drawn alongside Croatia and Kazakhstan in Perth.

Canada has named Felix Auger-Aliassime and Victoria Mboko, while defending champions Poland will return with Hubert Hurkacz and Maja Chwalinska.

Sydney will also host Czechia's Linda Noskova and Jiri Lehecka, as well as Greek stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari.

The 2027 tournament also comes amid changes to WTA scheduling rules, with top-50 players now required to contest four WTA 500 events annually instead of six.

While the United Cup will continue to offer up to 500 ranking points, participation will no longer count towards a player's mandatory WTA 500 commitments.

The change could influence how leading players approach their Australian summer schedules and potentially be a factor in this year's entry list, although no direct link has been confirmed.

The competition will feature six groups of three nations, with the group winners and best-performing runner-up from each city progressing to the quarter-finals.

Perth will host its quarter-finals on January 6, while Sydney will stage the remaining knockout matches, including the semi-finals on January 9 and the final on January 10.

For Australia, the focus will be on whether Hijikata and Gibson can build on their recent form and help the hosts make a strong start to the 2027 tennis season.

zoe malliaris
zoe malliaris
Zoe Malliaris is a sports journalist who also works as a radio producer at 3AW, with experience across digital, broadcast and social media. She covers the latest news and talking points across the sporting world, with a particular love for AFL.
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