GROUP C continues our 2022 United Cup preview series leading up the brand new event taking place across three Australian cities. Group A and Group F are in Perth, with Group B and Group E in Brisbane, and Group C and Group D are in Sydney. There are 18 teams battling it out for ultimate glory in the first ever extended five-match men’s and women’s combined team event.

HOW THE NATIONS WERE DECIDED

The first 12 nations were picked based on their highest ranked player, both from an ATP and WTA standpoint. That means the nations of six highest ATP ranked players who nominated, and the six highest WTA ranked players who nominated earned spots in the event. From there, the remaining six nations were based off a combined ATP and WTA ranking to complete the field of 18.

WHAT IS THE FORMAT?

The event features five matches per ‘tie’ with four singles and a doubles, the same format as a Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. The number one male singles players face off, as do the number one female singles players. Then it’s the number two male singles players, and then number two female singles players. Finally, the fifth match is a mixed doubles match between two chosen players from each nation, likely the top ranked talents.

GROUP C TEAMS

UNITED STATES

The United States are a real threat to the overall title with a nice balance of singles and doubles players and enough depth to provide opposition nations with some real headaches. All four main singles players are ranked inside the Top 20 of their respective Tours, with third ranked Jessica Pegula and 11th ranked Madison Keys on the women’s side, while Taylor Fritz (ninth) and Frances Tiafoe (19th) are on the men’s side. Desirae Krawczyk is a handy women’s doubles talent at 16th in the world, while Hunter Reese is 83rd on the men’s tour.

GERMANY

World number two Alexander Zverev headlines a solid German team that might not have enough to topple the United States, but could take a few off matches off them. Along with Zverev, the much improved pairing of Oscar Otte and Daniel Altmaier provide some handy depth, while Laura Siegemund and Jule Niemeier are 57th and 61st respectively on the WTA side. None of the nation’s main doubles players are in which limits the Germans chances outside the men’s number one singles match.

CZECH REPUBLIC

A nation that had so much potential – at least on the women’s side – has submitted a side that is lacklustre to say the least. Just Petra Kvitova remains from what is the women’s best possible team, and now 26th ranked Marie Bouzkova backs her up. Without Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova or Karolina Pliskova, the one side of the nation that is strong falls off, while the youth is exciting on the men’s. Jiri Lehecka and Tomas Machac have potential but will be unlikely to do too much damage to the United States.

PREDICTION

Given the Czech Republic did not play its best possible women’s team and the men’s is not yet fully developed, expect the depth of the United States to be too much, and the Americans would be a huge chance to end up in the semi-finals of the event.