World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, new mother Kerber and ATP star Ruud arrive in Australia for United Cup

Women's world no.1 Iga Swiatek arrived in Perth on Wednesday as she begins her final preparations for the Australian Open by leading Team Poland at the United Cup tune-up event.

The two-time WTA Player of the Year is coming off another successful season where she defended her French Open title and won the WTA FInals, while finishing the year atop the Forbes list of highest paid female athletes.

Her estimated gross earnings of $23.9 million in 2023 helped her retain the no.1 spot over Chinese-American freestyle skier Gu Ailing ($22.1 million) and reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff ($21.7 million).

The 22-year-old Swiatek, who has won the French Open three times and the US Open once, will be looking to win her elusive first Australian Open title next month.

Team Poland will start its United Cup Group A campaign against Brazil on Saturday in Perth.

Men's world no.11 Casper Rudd arrived in Sydney on Wednesday as he prepares for Team Norway's United Cup Group F opener against the Netherlands on Saturday.

Ruud advanced to the 2023 French Open final before falling to Novak Djokovic.

Germany's Angelique Kerber also arrived in Sydney as she begins her return to tennis following an 18-month break after becoming a new mother last February

The 35-year-old Kerber is part of Team Germany, which starts its United Cup Group D play against Italy on Saturday.