ULTIMATE GUIDE: A deep run into the Australian Open is on offer for Alex de Minaur reckons former tennis pro Wally Masur.

A deep run into the Australian Open is on offer for Alex de Minaur reckons former tennis pro Wally Masur.

The Sydneysider is ranked 12th in the world heading into the Australian summer of tennis, just one place below his all-time high 11th he achieved a month ago.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed something of a purple patch in 2023. 

Watch the United Cup from December 29 to January 7 live and exclusive on Nine, 9Now and on Stan Sport.?

For the first time in a calendar year, de Minaur made it to the fourth round of two grand slams in Australia and the United States.

He made his first final in an ATP Masters 1000 at the Canadian Open, falling to Jannik Sinner but not before defeating Daniil Medvedev and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

That in itself is reason for optimism, says Masur.

"I guess his ranking is suggesting that he's improving. In 2022, he beat Daniel Medvedev – a top-five player – and I think that's what he's added to his resume," Masur told Wide World of Sports.

Watch Australia take on the United States and Great Britain in the 2024 United Cup from December 29. Every match ad free and on demand on Stan Sport

"He started to get a few of those big scalps. Just watching Alex evolve over the last few years, he seems to be settling into a nice kind of defining his game style between when he needs to use his speed to counterpunch and stay alive in a point and he can be aggressive. 

"Just striking that balance, because he's an all-court tennis player and he's added a few Ks on the serve. So he's getting a few more free points."

Exactly what does that mean for de Minaur? Wasur is confident Australia's top-ranked men's star could have his best run yet at the Australian Open and make the finals.

"Everything is heading in a really good direction," said Masur.

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"We know he's an incredibly good competitor and I sort of feel like he's ready. He's made some fourth rounds in the slams, but I certainly think he's in a position (to go deep), particularly in Australia.

"When the weather's hot and the conditions are tough that probably suits him as well but I definitely think he's ready to make a move. 

"He will be seeded and seeded very highly. The draw is important where you land and as what can happen to players is just a cumulative effect. 

"If you've got a tough draw – three or four tough matches in a row can kind of do you in. You need a little bit of help with the draw. So we'll see how that plays out for him at the end."

Before the Australian Open, de Minaur will represent Australia in the United Cup on December 29 to January 7.

Here is everything you know ahead of the lead-up tournament.?

What is the United Cup and how does it work?

This year marks the second edition of the United Cup – a mixed, teams event split across two cities. 

A total of 18 countries will participate drawn into six groups of three teams that will then compete in a round robin format. 

Each team can have up to six members with a maximum of three ATP players and three WTA players. Each team has a captain too.

Perth Arena and Ken Rosewall Arena will play host to the teams.

Per the United Cup website, "Each tie between countries will consist of one men's singles match, one women's singles match, and a mixed doubles match.

"The singles matches will be played by the country's No.1 men's and women's singles players that enter the competition.

"The order of the singles matches may change – ties can start with either men's or women's singles – but mixed doubles will always conclude the tie.

"The team which wins at least two of the three matches wins the tie."

Once group ties are played the six teams topping their respective groups will move into the quarter-finals.

The other two quarter-final spots are given to the best performing runner-up team from each city.

When and where is the United Cup held?

The tournament is held from December 29 through to January 7 with the competition played across Sydney and Perth.

How can I watch the United Cup?

Stan Sport will have live, ad-free, and on-demand coverage of the United Cup from December 29 to January 7.

It will also be broadcast on Nine and 9Now.?

Watch the United Cup from December 29 to January 7 live and exclusive on Nine, 9Now and on Stan Sport.?

Who is playing in the United Cup?

Nine of the world's top 20 men and seven of the world's top 20 women will contest the United Cup.

The men's singles draw is led by world No.1 star Novak Djokovic for Serbia. He's followed by Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.7) for Greece, Norway's Casper Ruud (No.8), Germany's Alexander Zverev (No.9), American Taylor Fritz (No.10), Poland's Hubert Hurkacz (No.11), Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime (No.17), Great Britain's Cameron Norrie (No.18), Chile's Nicolas Jarry (No.19), and Australia's own Alex de Minaur (No.13).

In the women's draw, Iga Swiatek comes in as the top seed at No.2 for Poland. She's joined by American Jess Pegula (No.4), Maria Sakkari (No.6) for Greece, the Czech Republic's Maria Vondrousova (No.8), Caroline Garcia (No.10) for France, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia (No.11), and China's Qinwen Zheng (No.19)

How much prize money is on offer?

This year's United Cup offers a minimum of $14.7 million in total prize money and participation fees with a minimum of $7.3 million each for the ATP and WTA players respectively. The total prize pool is split into three components – namely participation fees, per team wins, and prize money for match wins. The singles final match win pays $370,000 to the winner. 

Where are the finals played?

Quarterfinal ties will be played in both Perth and Sydney. Semi-finals and the final will be played in Sydney.

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