Tennis Season Ignites Down Under: Australian Open Warm-ups Begin

• Serious tennis season begins Down Under with United Cup, Brisbane International, and other events leading to the Australian Open on Jan 18.
• United Cup kicks off Friday in Perth and Sydney, featuring top players like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiątek, and Alexander Zverev; Alcaraz and Sinner skip pre-AO for an exhibition.
• Stan Wawrinka declares 2026 his final year on tour, aiming to improve his ranking before retiring.
• Rising star Mirra Andreeva and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka headline the Brisbane International.
• New ATP rule for 2026 allows 10-minute heat breaks during best-of-three-sets men's singles matches.

Why It Matters: Tennis season ignites Down Under with major warm-ups and player storylines ahead of the Australian Open.