Preview: Host Australia aims to stop Djokovic’s Serbia in United Cup QFs

After completing one of his “top-five best matches” to stun Taylor Fritz at RAC Arena, Alex de Minaur accepts he may need to find another gear to spring the upset on Novak Djokovic in the United Cup quarterfinals.

The Australian found his sharpest form to topple world No.10 Fritz en route to Australia’s narrow 2-1 defeat of Team USA on Monday night before a Djokovic-led Serbia sealed a berth on Tuesday with a 2-1 triumph over the Czech Republic.

“It’s no secret Novak’s level, it’s incredible, and he’s probably the GOAT, if we’re honest,” said De Minaur, who won just five games in his only previous Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with the World No. 1. “He started the year strong. It’s going to be obviously extremely tough, but it will be a challenge that I’ll be looking forward to, to hopefully going out there and show what I can do.”

Djokovic received treatment on his right wrist during a three-set victory over Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday to level Serbia’s tie with the Czechs, after Olga Danilovic came up narrowly short against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-1 3-6 6-3.

“Of course, we are playing a home nation tomorrow, probably packed stadium, which is something that we all are looking forward to,” Djokovic said. “They are very strong, particularly doubles, and also singles, they are very complete.”

Following the ATP singles match, Ajla Tomljanovic and Olga Danilovic will go head-to-head in search of their first respective singles win of this year’s United Cup.

Tomljanovic continued her comeback from ongoing injuries that blighted her 2023 season with a much-improved showing against world No.5 Jessica Pegula on Monday night. While she succumbed in two tight sets it was a warning to her prospective opponent in Australia’s quarterfinal.

“I think people might underestimate me because they know I haven’t played in a while,” she said. “I feel like I can still play a pretty good level… I believe in myself but I’m not expecting huge things because I always try to bring myself to the reality of the situation that I haven’t played much."

In the mixed doubles, Western Australians Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden will attempt to land a third straight win of this year’s United Cup. Whichever country wins in Perth will then travel to Sydney to play its semi-final on Saturday.

"This is 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 guys!" 😜

Find out if team Australia's @Ajlatom & @alexdeminaur were successful in the 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 🇦🇺🎧#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/REbGIJ0LhP

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 2, 2024

Also looking to book a ticket to the last four in New South Wales are Poland and China. The two nations open Wednesday’s play at RAC Arena, where WTA No. 1 Iga Swiatek will hope to maintain her perfect start to the 2024 season.

Swiatek faces a stern test from fast-rising Chinese start Zheng Qinwen, however, before the No. 9 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings Hurkacz meets Zhang Zhizhen. Poland is chasing a semi-final spot for the second consecutive year at the United Cup.

Group play at this year’s edition of the mixed teams event will come to a close Wednesday at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, where second-seeded Team Greece will hope to bounce back quickly from their shock opening defeat to Chile.

Stefanos Tsitsipas plays Steven Diez in the ATP singles match before WTA stars Maria Sakkari and Leylah Fernandez clash in Group B. Greece can still win the group if it defeats Canada 3-0, or 2-1 as long as the sets score is not 4-4.

There is also all to play for in Group D, where France, Italy and Germany can all still reach the quarter-finals.

The No. 22 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings Adrian Mannarino meets No. 46 in the opening match as France and Italy face off in the Sydney day session. WTA World No. 20 Caroline Garcia then takes on Jasmine Paolini, with the French knowing they simply need to win the tie in order to top the group.

ORDER OF PLAY - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2024

KEN ROSEWALL ARENA start 10:30 am
[4] A. Mannarino (FRA) vs [12] L. Sonego (ITA)
[4] C. Garcia (FRA) vs [12] J. Paolini (ITA)
[4] C. Garcia (FRA) / E. Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs [12] A. Moratelli (ITA) / F. Cobolli (ITA)

Not Before 5:30 pm
[2] S. Tsitsipas (GRE) vs [7] S. Diez (CAN)

Not Before 7:00 pm
[2] M. Sakkari (GRE) vs [7] L. Fernandez (CAN)
[2] M. Sakkari (GRE) / S. Tsitsipas (GRE) vs [7] L. Fernandez (CAN) / F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

RAC ARENA start 10:00 am
[1] H. Hurkacz (POL) vs [9] Z. Zhang (CHN)
[1] I. Swiatek (POL) vs [9] Q. Zheng (CHN)
[1] I. Swiatek (POL) / H. Hurkacz (POL) vs [9] Q. Zheng (CHN) / Z. Zhang (CHN)

Not Before 5:00 pm
[15] A. de Minaur (AUS) vs [13] N. Djokovic (SRB)
[15] A. Tomljanovic (AUS) vs [13] O. Danilovic (SRB)
[15] S. Hunter (AUS) / M. Ebden (AUS) vs [13] O. Danilovic (SRB) / N. Djokovic (SRB)