United Cup
Auger-Aliassime & Mboko ‘actually excited’ for United Cup after go to with kangaroos & koalas
Crew China additionally spends time on the Sydney Zoo
December 31, 2025
Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Victoria Mboko take a selfie with a koala on Wednesday on the Sydney Zoo.
By ATP Workers
Crew Canada and Crew China took the time to discover Sydney Wednesday earlier than the beginning of the United Cup, visiting the Sydney Zoo the place they interacted with kangaroos and koalas.
The Canadians in attendance had been Auger-Aliassime, rising WTA star Victoria Mboko, Alexis Galarneau and Kayla Cross. One yr in the past, Mboko was exterior the High 300 within the PIF WTA Rankings. She enters the United Cup as World No. 18.
“I’m actually excited. That is my first time enjoying such an occasion and enjoying the entire Australia swing, so there are plenty of new experiences and so many new issues to return,” Mboko mentioned. “I’m excited to play United Cup. It’s a extremely enjoyable occasion and to be right here with Felix and the staff, it’s actually nice.”
Auger-Aliassime is flying greater than ever at No. 5 within the PIF ATP Rankings. A winner of fifty matches in the course of the 2025 season, the Canadian will attempt to make a fast begin to the brand new yr Down Underneath. He’s serving as enjoying captain for Crew Canada.
“I’ve nice reminiscences enjoying prior to now staff occasions right here in Australia,” Auger-Aliassime mentioned. “We truly received with our staff [the ATP Cup] in Sydney a pair years again, so it could be good to get a win once more.”
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The Crew China members who visited the Sydney Zoo had been former WTA No. 31 Zhu Lin, Zhang Zhizhen (second from proper), Te Rigele (far proper), Wang Aoran (far left) and captain Wu Di (second from left).
Zhang and Zhu prepared the ground for the Chinese language. Zhang has performed the United Cup in every of the previous two seasons, tallying a 1-2 singles mark every time. He’s proud to signify his nation on a worldwide stage.
“That is all the time completely different. Additionally that’s the reason United Cup is slightly bit completely different [from] different tournaments,” Zhang mentioned. “You must combat for each level, even when you get yet one more level or yet one more set you might be serving to your staff.”
Motion in Sydney begins on 3 January. Click on right here to seek out out who’s competing within the mixed-teams occasion.
