United Cup 2026 LIVE: Alex de Minaur’s season begins in Sydney, Maya Joint out with illness

There are plenty of big-name Australian Open contenders competing at the United Cup this week.

Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur...just to name a few.

Here are my six picks for must-watch matches that will give us an insight into the Australian Open.

Some of the stars in action ahead of the 2026 Australian Open.Credit: Getty,AP

• Alex de Minaur v Casper Ruud

• Alexander Zverev v Tallon Griekspoor

• Naomi Osaka v Emma Raducanu

• Jasmine Paolini v Belinda Bencic

• Eva Lys v Iga Swiatek

• Maya Joint v Barbora Krjcikova

Read why here. 

Some breaking news from team Australia, with no.1 women’s player Maya Joint having to withdraw due to illness.

Joint missed media and team commitments on Friday and was under doctors orders to rest, but captain Lleyton Hewitt was confident she would be able to take to the court.

She will be replaced by Storm Hunter.

We’ll bring you more news on that when we get it.