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United Cup’s new ‘twist’ to dazzle New Years Day as Alex de Minaur and fiance Katie Boulter face off

Australia's Alex de Minaur and new fiancé, Great Britain's Katie Boulter, will face off in their mixed doubles match group stage match at the United Cup, which kicks off on Friday afternoon.

And it's not the first time this awkward match up has occurred between the couple. It also happened last year.

The same match up on New Years Day has left United Cup tournament director Stephen Farrow laughing.

AS IT HAPPENED: Australia vs India fourth Test, day one

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter announce engagement Instagram

"It's the second year in a row that this has happened, which is absolutely extraordinary," Farrow told the Today Show.

"It's another twist in this competition. It's another storyline for us."

And Farrow is confident Australia can do some damage this time around, in search of a maiden United Cup victory.

But the weight of a win would be on de Minaur's shoulders.

"Australia are right in there. Alex (de Minaur) had a magnificent year last year," he said.

"He showed that he can compete and beat the very best players in the world. He can play right alongside them."

But don't think Australia will have it easy if they want to win it all.

"It's a really open competition this one. We've got so many of the best players in the world playing," Farrow said.

"It's the only time in professional tennis throughout the year that you get the very best male and female players coming together playing for their country."

Watch the United Cup live and free on 9Now!

Seven of the world's top 10 women and six of the world's top 12 men's players will feature at the 2025 United Cup.

Team USA will be led by 2023 US Open champion and world No.3 Coco Gauff on debut and US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.

For team Poland, world No.1 Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz (world No.12) will headline as the No.2 seeds.

Greece will feature Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, as third seeds.

United Cup's new 'twist' to dazzle New Years Day as Alex de Minaur and fiance Katie Boulter face off

Alex de Minaur front media ahead of the United Cup. Edwina Pickles via SMH Sport

For Australia, de Minaur, Olivia Gadeki, Omar Jasika, Destanee Aiava, Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez will feature.

Australia get their campaign underway against Argentina on Saturday in Sydney, before playing Great Britain on New Years Day.

The United Cup gets underway at 1pm (AEDT).

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