The official draw for the 2024 United Cup tennis tournament concluded on Monday, with results revealing that debutants China will clash with the Novak Djokovic-led Serbia and the Czech team headlined by Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the group stage.

The second edition of the United Cup is scheduled to run from Dec. 29, 2023, to Jan. 7, 2024, featuring 18 teams to compete in the Australian cities of Sydney and Perth.

Zhang Zhizhen of China hits a return during the men's singles second round match against Casper Ruud of Norway at the 2023 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Aug. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

For their first-ever appearance at this mixed-team event, Zhang Zhizhen, Zheng Qinwen, Bu Yunchaokete, Sun Fajing and You Xiaodi represent China in Group E.

Asiad tennis men's singles gold medalist Zhang will likely face tough season opener tests against world No. 1 Djokovic, the tournament's biggest drawcard and record-holder of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, and the Czech Republic's 21-year-old Grand Slam quarterfinalist Jiri Lehecka.

China's Zheng, who won the women's singles at Asiad and cracked the top 20, will have her first head-to-heads with world No. 6 Vondrousova and lower-ranked Olga Danilovic of Serbia.

"We have a Chinese team qualifying for the first time with Qinwen Zheng and Zhizhen Zhang. That is a team which is going to be one to watch in this event not just in 2024 but in the years to come as well," United Cup Tournament Director Stephen Farrow said at the ceremony.

Apart from Group E, the RAC Arena in Perth will also host Group A and Group C until the curtain of the quarterfinals drops on Jan. 3.

Top seeds Poland, led by four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, will spearhead Group A, alongside Spain and a third team to be confirmed based on WTA rankings in November, while Group C has hosts Australia, Britain, and the tournament's defending champions United States.

In Sydney, No. 2 seeds Greece, studded with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, top Group B, where Canada will also make their United Cup debut with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Fernandez. A third team, determined by ATP rankings, remains to be confirmed in November.

Former world No. 1 and three-time major champion Angelique Kerber of Germany will return to the tennis court following her maternity leave, battling together with her countryman Alexander Zverev for a berth in the last eight against France and Italy in Group D. Meanwhile, Group F will see competitions unfold among Croatia, the Netherlands, and Norway.

As per the format, group winners in each city will advance to the quarter-finals, with one quarterfinal spot in each city awarded to the best runner-up. The semifinals and finals will be staged in Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena on Jan. 6 and 7, respectively. 

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