China in same group with defending champions Germany at United Cup

The draw results for groups of the 2025 United Cup were announced on Monday: China are Group E with the defending champions Germany and Brazil.

Zhang Zhizhen, Bai Yan and Sun Fajing will play the men's matches for China and Zheng Qinwen, Gao Xinyu and Zhang Shuai will participate in the women's competitions for the team. Germany will be led by world No. 3 Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund. Brazil will send Beatriz Haddad Maia and Thiago Monteiro among others to the tournament.

Zhang will play Zverev and Zheng will face Maia in Group E. The last time Zhang met Zverev, the German won 6-4, 6-3 at the Hamburg Open in July. Zhang played Monteiro once before and he beat the Brazilian 7-6(4), 6-3 at the Italian Open in May. Maia defeated Zheng 7(13)-6(11), 7-6(4) at the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Elite Trophy in October 2023. Zheng and Siegemund haven't played each other so far.

The matches of Group E will take place in Perth, Australia, where USA, Canada and a combined team will compete in Group A and Greece, Kazakhstan and Spain will battle each other in Group C.

The other nine teams, divided into three groups, will play in Sydney. Poland, the Czech Republic and Norway are in Group B; Italy, France and Switzerland are in Group D; Britain, Australia and the other combined team are in Group F.

The rosters of two combined teams will be confirmed in November.

"To play in Sydney is pretty exciting for Alex (de Minaur), he loves playing on Ken Rosewall Arena, we know how well he plays out there, so it's a good opportunity," two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt said. "Alex always plays well on Ken Rosewall Arena, he gets the home crowd advantage out there as well. Hopefully he can push deep … get as many matches as possible through the United Cup and give himself the best preparation for the Australian Open."