United Cup officials hoping for Kyrgios-Tsitsipas Wimbledon rematch at inaugural event in January

Tennis West officials are hopeful of hosting Nick Kyrgios and the Australian national team when the inaugural United Cup draw is held on Thursday.

Perth could potentially host one of the top-ranked teams in Greece, America or Poland, meaning world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas or Polish star Hubert Hurkacz could be hitting the court at RAC Arena next month.

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In an ideal world, Tennis West officials had hoped to host the hot match-up between Tsitsipas and Kyrgios, who clashed earlier this year both on the court and verbally at Wimbledon.

Kyrgios was labelled a “bully” with an “evil side” by Tsitsipas after the Australian defeated the Greek star in the third round of Wimbledon earlier this year.

As of Wednesday afternoon, it was unclear which teams would be heading to WA, as international tennis returns to the state for the first time in two summers.

The inaugural United Cup, which replaced the now-defunct ATP Cup, will be hosted in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney from December 29 to January 4, with the finals to be played in Sydney from January 6 to eight.

A total of 18 teams will compete for US$15 million prizemoney and rankings points, with three groups of six battling it out to make the semifinals.

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Players already confirmed include Australians Kyrgios, Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic as well as superstars Rafael Nadal, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini, WTA finals champion Caroline Garcia, world No.1 Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys.

Kyrgios, who won the Hopman Cup alongside Daria Gavrilova in 2016, was excited about the return of the mixed-team event in Australia.

“I think those are important events to have, especially for the crowd, to see how the top female and top male — whoever enters — can play for their country,” he said.

“I have some great memories. I obviously won Hopman Cup one year and it was probably one of the cooler memories of my career. So I think it’s going to be a good event.

“I think it’s going to be different. It’s not every week we can play mixed doubles or watch one of our teammates be a female player. And I’m sure vice versa for them, as well. I think it’s going to be exciting in that way.”