Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka started her 2026 season with a win for Japan at the United Cup, although Great Britain ultimately took the tie 2-1. Osaka defeated Britain’s reserve player Katie Swan 7-6(4), 6-1 after Emma Raducanu withdrew due to a foot injury.
Despite Osaka’s victory, Great Britain sealed the match in the deciding mixed doubles with Neal Skupski and Olivia Nicholls defeating Yasutaka Uchiyama and Nao Hibino 7-5, 4-6, 10-7.
Switzerland also advanced to the quarter-finals, thanks to a mixed doubles win by Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul over Italy’s Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, 7-5, 4-6, 10-7. Bencic had earlier beaten Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-3, avenging her loss to Paolini at the end of 2025. Stan Wawrinka, in his final season at 40, lost a three-hour battle to Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-6(4), showing remarkable effort despite the defeat.
In Sydney, Germany dominated the Netherlands, with Alexander Zverev demolishing Tallon Griekspoor 7-5, 6-0 and Eva Lys beating Suzan Lamens 6-2, 6-2. Germany completed a 3-0 sweep by taking the doubles as well.
Canada also secured a win over China, with Victoria Mboko overcoming Zhu Lin 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 and Felix Auger-Aliassime defeating Zhang Zhizhen 6-4, 6-4.
The United Cup, played across Perth and Sydney, serves as a warm-up event for the Australian Open starting on January 18.
