Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper are both heading to the 2026 United Cup, and that’s pretty huge news for British tennis fans.
Neither of them played in this year’s tournament. Instead, Team Great Britain went with Katie Boulter, Billy Harris, Jan Choinski, Lily Miyazaki, Charles Broom, and Olivia Nicholls.
That team actually did really well without the big names.
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They made it all the way to the quarterfinals before Poland knocked them out 3-0. Poland ended up finishing second in the whole tournament, so it’s not like Britain lost to just anyone.
But having Raducanu and Draper on the team? That changes everything.
Raducanu’s United Cup Debut
This’ll be Raducanu’s first time playing the United Cup, and she’s clearly excited about it. The format’s pretty unique since it mixes men’s and women’s matches in the same team competition.
"I’m honoured to be able to make my United Cup debut in January. Being able to play for Team GB with my team-mates is a unique opportunity and week to enjoy. It’s great to be able to experience a new format on the tour, represent my country and spend a couple extra weeks in Australia."
She’s got good reason to feel confident going into it.
Raducanu reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal at the Miami Open this year. She lost to Jessica Pegula in three sets, but just getting there was a big deal.
The 2021 US Open champion has been getting really close to some major upsets lately. She had match points against both Barbora Krejcikova and Jessica Pegula in Beijing.
She also beat Amanda Anisimova twice and pushed top players like Aryna Sabalenka to their limits.
The key for Raducanu might be sticking with her new coach Francisco Roig. He joined her team before the US Open, and building that long-term relationship could be what takes her back to the top.
Draper’s Breakthrough Year
Draper’s having the best season of his career, no question about it.
He won Indian Wells – his first Masters 1000 title. The way he dismantled Holger Rune in the final was impressive enough, but he also beat Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals.
That’s the kind of result that announces you’ve arrived at the top level.
"I am excited to get back on court and compete in the United Cup. I’ll be looking out for the draw to see if Team GB will play in Perth or Sydney. I haven’t been to either so it will be nice to compete in a brand new city in Australia."
A few weeks after Indian Wells, Draper made another Masters 1000 final in Madrid. He lost to Casper Ruud, but honestly? That might’ve been even more impressive than winning Indian Wells.
Draper’s always struggled on clay courts. Making a final on that surface shows he’s becoming a complete player.
Unfortunately, an arm injury ended his season early. The 23-year-old had to withdraw before his US Open second round match, and tests showed he couldn’t play again this year.
Hopefully he’ll be fully recovered by January.
What This Means for Team GB
Having both players healthy and committed makes Britain a real threat in the United Cup.
The tournament’s held in Perth and Sydney – Draper hasn’t been to either city, so it’ll be a fresh experience for him.
Other top players are starting to commit too. Iga Swiatek’s already confirmed she’ll play for Poland again. If Coco Gauff decides to play for the US, next year’s tournament could be stacked with talent.
That’s exactly what the United Cup needs to keep growing as a major season-opening event.
For British fans, though, it’s just exciting to see their two biggest stars ready to represent the country together. It’s been a while since Britain had this much depth in both the men’s and women’s games.