The International Tennis Federation made an exciting announcement on Thursday that the Hopman Cup will grace the charming southern Italian city of Bari this year.
Scheduled to unfold from July 16-20, right after the Wimbledon Championships, this mixed-team tournament will see competitors from Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Canada, and the defending champions, Croatia, battling it out on the court.
Each team in the Hopman Cup includes one male and one female player, with ties consisting of a men’s singles match, a women’s singles match, and a mixed doubles match. It’s worth noting that the competition doesn’t offer ranking points, which makes it a unique showcase of skill and sportsmanship.
Representing the host nation, Italy, are Jasmine Paolini and Flavio Cobolli, though the participating players from other nations are still under wraps.
Paolini comes in with an impressive track record, having reached the finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon last year. She also clinched the women’s doubles title at the Paris Olympics alongside her partner, Sara Errani.
The Hopman Cup, conceptualized in 1989 to honor the legendary Australian, Harry Hopman, enjoyed a long tradition in Perth, Australia, running for 30 years in the opening week of the tennis season before pausing in 2020. The event made a triumphant return in France in 2023, with Croatia’s Donna Vekic and Borna Coric emerging victorious.
Last year’s edition, which was planned for Nice, France, didn’t proceed due to its closeness to the Olympics. Now with Bari stepping in as the host city, Italy’s tennis calendar is becoming even livelier, as it already stages the ATP Finals and Davis Cup finals in November, along with the Italian Open in May.
