Aussie Nick Kyrgios believes fans watching and attending the new United Cup event in ten days' time are in for a real treat.
World No.22 will be one of the big names kicking of their 2023 campaign by playing the inaugural national team competition, a mixed event that replaces the ATP Cup.
Kyrgios will be representing Australia for the first time since the 2020 ATP Cup and told reporters this new event could prove to be a popular one because of the unique nature of its tournament model.
He said: "It's just a great event to have, an event where females and males come together as one to represent their nation.
"That's extremely important. And for the fans. To have all the best athletes from around the world together, I think it's a very special event.
"We don't have very many events during the year where both males and females are in the same spot playing the one event together competing for prize money, a top title and representing your country all in one."
The United Cup will see group matches played across Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and Australia will play pool matches against Great Britain and Spain at Ken Rosewall Arena on December 29-30 and January 2-3 as the best-of-five-rubber teams' event marks the long-awaited return of mixed doubles at a regular tour stop.
That means there is the prospect of Kyrgios matching up with old flame Ajla Tomljanovic as both players are their countries respective No.1's.
"I don't play so much mixed doubles anymore but what I love about mixed doubles is, it's for the fans. That's the most important thing," Kyrgios said on Sunday.
"Seeing some of the best females in the world playing with the best males, it definitely provides some really good entertainment, how the male kind of lets the female do her thing on the court and not get in the way. That's fun to watch."
There is also the small prospect of a Kyrgios versus long-term rival Rafael Nadal, but the Canberran knows he will have to improve his Sydney-form if he is to help Team Oz.
He finished: "To be honest, I haven't really played well in Sydney but I'm hoping to change that narrative at the start of the year.
"Just playing in Australia is special. The tour is a long grind and it's rarely in Australia so I'm definitely not going to take it for granted."
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