Day 2 of the 2026 tennis season features a packed United Cup competition, including a showdown between Australian Alex de Minaur and Norwegian Casper Ruud. France is also going to court.
Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs Casper Ruud (NOR)
Shockingly, De Minaur and Ruud will face off for only the fourth time in their careers and for the second time since 2019 when they collided on Saturday United Cup bond between Australia and Norway. De Minaur leads the head-to-head series 2-1 (2-0 on the main tour) after recently winning 6-4, 6-4 in the 2024 Acapulco final.
The seventh-ranked Australian should have the upper hand again based on how he finished last year and considering he has home field advantage in Sydney. De Minaur made a second appearance in the Nitto ATP Finals in November, qualifying for the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Ruud dropped to twelfth in the rankings, although he at least managed to lift a trophy towards the end of the season in Stockholm. The Norwegian will not leave without a fight, but on a hard court in Australia the lead goes to De Minaur.
Choice: De Minaur in 3
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
Wawrinka is set for his first match of his final season on tour, having recently announced his impending retirement from tennis. The farewell tour starts for the 40-year-old Swiss when he takes on Rinderknech for the first time in their career on Saturday. Wawrinka is ranked 157 in the world after winning just four matches at ATP level in 2025.
Rinderknech is also something of a veteran at 30, but his career only seems to be on the rise. The world number 29 was part of one of tennis’s biggest stories in 2025, when he improbably reached the final of the Shanghai Masters alongside cousin Valentin Vacherot (Vacherot won in three sets). Rinderknech faded a bit after that, but an offseason rest should have him back in action. Although Wawrinka can make this match competitive, Rinderknech would have the advantage if it becomes a physical three-setter.
Choice: Rinderknech in 3
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