Japanese star Naomi Osaka recently received a heartwarming gift while arriving in Perth for the 2026 United Cup. The international outdoor hard court tournament will be held across Perth and Sydney at the RAC Arena and the Ken Rosewall Arena from January 2 to 11, featuring a battle of 18 countries, with Team USA defending its title.
Naomi Osaka Receives an Adorable Gift As She Arrives in Perth for the Tournament
The United Cup, which is a mixed-gender team event, will feature the top ATP and WTA stars, promising an action-packed tournament. The 2025 event, the third edition, was won by Team USA, headlined by elite players Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz. They are returning for this year as well, along with other players.
Whereas Osaka, with Team Japan, will be making their debut with the 2026 tournament, along with Nao Hibino and Shintaro Mochizuki, who was the 2019 Junior Wimbledon champion, and Yasutaka Uchiyama. Other stars include Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek, Hubert Hurkacz, Alexander Zverev, Eva Lys, Emma Raducanu, Bill Harris, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Victoria Mboko, along with others.
The current World No. 16 has arrived for the 2026 United Cup tournament, and while at the airport, she was given a brown-coloured plush toy featuring a pink ribbon around its neck. For her airport look, the player was wearing a grey hoodie with a black undershirt and black pants, exuding a casual yet stylish appearance. Through the United Cup’s Instagram post, the warm moment was captured, with the caption, “Welcome back to Perth 👋”
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The United Cup tournament’s director, Stephen Farrow, while expressing excitement and highlighting the significance of the lineup, shared, “The entry list for the United Cup this summer is world-class. We’re excited to welcome five of the world’s top 10 men and four of the world’s top 10 women in 2026. The United Cup holds a unique position in global tennis, with the world’s best men and women committed to play in mixed teams and showcase equality in the sport.” (via ATP Tour)
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He continued, “We look forward to the official draw next Monday to determine where our 18 countries will play across Perth and Sydney. It will be fascinating to see where the likes of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Alexander Zverev, Alex De Minaur, Taylor Fritz and Jasmine Paolini end up competing. With AO 2019 and 2021 champion Naomi Osaka also leading Team Japan in its United Cup debut, the star power in 2026 is undeniable.”
Osaka is coming off her 2025 season, during which she posted a 35-15 win-loss record while delivering notable performances at the Japan Women’s Open, US Open, and Canadian Open and winning the L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo title.
