UPDATE: Naomi Osaka has officially arrived in Perth, expressing her excitement for her highly anticipated United Cup debut. The four-time grand slam champion touched down on Saturday afternoon, just days before the tournament kicks off on December 29, 2026.
Osaka, who will represent Japan in two key singles matches, is set to face off against Great Britain’s former US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Greek ex-world no.3 Maria Sakkari. This marks her first appearance at the United Cup, and she is eager to make an impact after a year away from the sport due to pregnancy.
In a statement, Osaka shared, “It’s probably one of my favourite parts of the year and for us to be starting here, it’s going to be really fun. I’ve never played the United Cup before, but I’m going to try to treat it like the Billie Jean King Cup.” Her enthusiasm is palpable as she looks forward to competing against top-tier players.
After a remarkable comeback in 2025, where Osaka finished as world no.16 and reached the semifinals of the US Open, she is determined to build on her success. The last time she played in Perth was for the 2018 Hopman Cup, where she faced Swiss legends Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic. Reflecting on her return, she stated, “I feel like when I watch the United Cup, I see such good matches, and I’ve always wanted to participate.”
Osaka is not alone in her pursuit of victory; the United Cup will also see other big names in attendance, including women’s world no.3 Coco Gauff and men’s world no.6 Taylor Fritz, both representing the USA. Italian world no.8 Jasmine Paolini is also expected to compete, alongside Greek dual grand slam runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas and Swiss three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka, who are arriving later today.
However, the tournament faces a significant setback as Jack Draper, former world no.4 from Great Britain, has been forced to withdraw due to injury. He will be replaced by men’s world no.130 Billy Harris.
With the clock ticking down to the start of the tournament, excitement builds not only for Osaka’s return but for the entire lineup of stellar athletes. Fans and players alike are gearing up for what promises to be an exhilarating kickoff to the 2026 tennis season.
Stay tuned for more updates as the United Cup approaches!
