Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka added a playful chapter to tennis’s off-court folklore as both stars showed off their own versions of the iconic quokka selfie just days before the 2026 United Cup gets underway. The images surfaced as anticipation builds around a possible early-season clash between the two Grand Slam champions.
Closer Look at the Origins of Tennis’ Iconic Quokka Selfie Tradition
The quokka selfie has become one of the sport’s most recognizable off-court traditions since 2017, when tennis icon Roger Federer posed with the famously cheerful marsupial on Rottnest Island while in Australia for the Hopman Cup.
The image went viral almost instantly, blending Federer’s global stardom with the quokka’s camera-ready grin and capturing the relaxed charm that defines the Australian summer swing. In the years since, the selfie has turned into a rite of passage for visiting players.
The quokka selfies themselves appeared on social media in the final days of December, shared by fans and widely reshared after first surfacing on X. Posted while both players were already in Australia, preparing for the United Cup, the images offered a rare moment of levity before competition began.
Emma and Naomi take iconic quokka selfies ahead of the United Cup 🤳
Meeting Rottnest’s happiest locals 🤗 pic.twitter.com/x9jx4KVk5c
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 31, 2025
Both Raducanu and Osaka enter the 2026 United Cup as central figures for their nations. Osaka anchors Japan in its debut appearance at the tournament, while Raducanu leads Great Britain. They have been drawn into Group E, a star-studded trio that also features Greece, represented by Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari.
After arriving in Perth, Osaka addressed her fitness and expressed optimism ahead of her United Cup debut, saying, “I hope so. I guess I’ll let you know after my first few matches, but I think so. You know, I feel like every year I’m slowly getting stronger, so I hope next year I’m better too.”
With each tie decided by a men’s singles match, a women’s singles match, and a mixed doubles contest, the margins are slim. Only group winners and a limited number of top runners-up advance, which means every rubber carries added pressure.
MORE: Emma Raducanu Shows Off Her New Year’s Celebrations and Special Memories Ahead of United Cup
Tournament organizers have emphasized that the event, held from Jan. 2 to 11 across Perth and Sydney, continues to serve as a combined curtain-raiser for both the ATP and WTA Tours, with outdoor hard courts setting the stage and the United States returning as the defending champion after its 2025 triumph.
Great Britain’s lineup features Raducanu alongside Billy Harris, Jan Choinski, Katie Swan, Neal Skupski, and Olivia Nicholls, with former World No. 4 Tim Henman serving as team captain. Japan, meanwhile, is led by Osaka and includes Shintaro Mochizuki, Yasutaka Uchiyama, and Nao Hibino, under the captaincy of Go Soeda.
