United Cup: A heart for losers
The curiosity about the first edition of the United Cup is great. The mode of the combined event, however, raises eyebrows.
by Robin Huiber
last edit:
Nov 16, 2022, 03:38 pm
Why make it simple when you can make it complicated? The organizers of the upcoming United Cup at the end of December seem to have thought so. First of all, the basics: The game is played in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney, there is nothing wrong with that in principle. There is also decent money to be made, with a total of 15 million US dollars in prize money being distributed.
So far so good.
But why is it played with 18 teams? It's already clear: All three venues are each assigned two groups, and lively sporting activities are guaranteed. Especially since in the best case a mixed doubles after two women's and men's singles decides on the victory. However, 18 is not a particularly practical number, as has been seen in the past two Davis Cup finals. Suddenly you have to calculate which team that has already been eliminated might still progress, every set won, yes, even every game won can be the deciding factor.
A semi-final loser advances
As in the United Cup. Because there, in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, the two group winners compete against each other to determine the semi-finalists. The three winners are further. However, since there are no byes to be awarded in the preliminary round, the “best loser” from the three final games mentioned may also take part in the semi-finals.
You would have been better served with 16 teams and four groups. But would have needed an additional venue. The players probably wouldn't have objected either: after all, a third match would have been guaranteed. Always gladly taken in the preparation time for the first major.