By the end of Sunday’s 2026 United Cup matches, all but one country in the team event will have played at least one match in as the round robin stage continues. As always, LWOT are offering our predictions for all the action from the United Cup, but who will claim a much needed win?
United Cup Day 3 Predictions
Victoria Mboko vs Zhu Lin
Head-to-head: first meeting
Zhu Lin lost rather easily to Elise Mertens on Saturday, and it’s hard to see the Chinese #5 surviving against Victoria Mboko’s power as a result. The world #162 will have to play consistent tennis and hope the Canadian misfires with her groundstrokes. But Mboko is on a five-match winning streak dating back to October 2025, and she should be too strong ahead of a big year for the young gun.
Prediction: Mboko in 2
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Félix Auger-Aliassime vs Zhang Zhizhen
Head-to-head: Zhang 1-0 Auger-Aliassime
Similarly to Mboko, Felix Auger-Aliassime is also starting an important 2026 season. Questions remain about his consistency and fitness, but he’s now firmly in the top 10 and could use a good United Cup to help his Australian Open preparation – a tournament where he has not had much success in the last couple of years. Zhang Zhizhen, meanwhile, won a thrilling three-hour tussle against Zizou Bergs on Saturday, as this could raise some questions of fatigue. On the other hand, he did not face a break point in the entire match, meaning Auger-Aliassime may have to shake off rust fast and avoid a poor serving day. Still, the Canadian #1 should win even if it is a close match.
Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3
Billy Harris vs Shintaro Mochizuki
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is the pair’s first meeting at tour-level, and there’s not a ton to separate the two. Both had a losing record on the ATP Tour in 2025, with Shintaro Mochizuki ranked just inside the top 100. The Japanese has already played one match during the United Cup — falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas underwhelmingly — but despite defeat, this might just give Mochizuki the edge. Having the extra match play might give him the confidence to step up in the bigger moments, while Billy Harris may feel some pressure as he tries to snap a 0-3 career record at this team tournament.
Prediction: Mochizuki in 3
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Emma Raducanu vs Naomi Osaka
Head-to-head: Raducanu 1-0 Osaka
The two faced off in what was supposed to be a blockbuster Washington D.C. summer match in 2025, but the encounter was dissappointing. Naomi Osaka’s best level was nowhere to be found, and Emma Raducanu cruised to a 6-4 6-2 win as a result. On Saturday, Osaka put on a similarly poor performance, hitting lots of unforced errors and lacking the energy in a loss to the Greek Maria Sakkari.
However, the world #16 should do a better job of shaking off the rust in her second match at the United Cup. Raducanu’s level has steadily improved over the last 12 months, but a back injury brought her 2025 season to an early close and she might not be at her best yet. Look for Osaka to flip the switch on what could become a fun rivalry to follow.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
