Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fire to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv as others explode and traces fly over Jerusalem during a missile attack by Iran in retaliation for deadly Israeli attacks on nuclear sites and military leaders.
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Israel's Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept projectiles over Tel Aviv, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
People view remnants of a missile fallen on a field between Najaf and Karbala, Iraq, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli security forces inspect a house hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed residential buildings that were hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Paramedics evacuate a woman from a site that was struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Residents react after their home was struck by a missile launched from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
A residential building that was struck by a missile fired from Iran, is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Destroyed residential buildings that was hit by a missile fired from Iran is seen in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed residential buildings that were hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
The trace of a projectile illuminates the sky in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Traces of projectiles are seen over Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The trace of a projectile is seen before hitting Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A projectile hits a building in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The trace of a projectile is seen as it hits buildings in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
An explosion caused by a projectile strike illuminates the skyline in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Smoke billows after a projectile hit a building in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People take shelter as a siren sounds a warning following a missiles that were launched from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Israeli security forces run to take cover while missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
People evacuate from a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Paramedics evacuate a wounded person from a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Fire and smoke rises from a destroyed building that was hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
A woman holds her dog next to a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Paramedics evacuate a wounded woman from a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, projectiles light up the night sky over Jerusalem during an Iranian missile attack, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Missiles illuminate the night sky Jerusalem during an Iranian missile attack, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
People watch to traces over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
An explosion is seen during a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
Israel's Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept projectiles over Tel Aviv, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
People view remnants of a missile fallen on a field between Najaf and Karbala, Iraq, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed houses that were struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli security forces inspect a house hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed residential buildings that were hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Paramedics evacuate a woman from a site that was struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Residents react after their home was struck by a missile launched from Iran, in Rishon Lezion, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
A residential building that was struck by a missile fired from Iran, is seen in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Destroyed residential buildings that was hit by a missile fired from Iran is seen in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli security forces inspect destroyed residential buildings that were hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
The trace of a projectile illuminates the sky in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Traces of projectiles are seen over Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The trace of a projectile is seen before hitting Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A projectile hits a building in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The trace of a projectile is seen as it hits buildings in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
An explosion caused by a projectile strike illuminates the skyline in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Smoke billows after a projectile hit a building in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People take shelter as a siren sounds a warning following a missiles that were launched from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Israeli security forces run to take cover while missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
People evacuate from a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Paramedics evacuate a wounded person from a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Fire and smoke rises from a destroyed building that was hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
A woman holds her dog next to a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
Paramedics evacuate a wounded woman from a building struck by a missile fired from Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Appelbaum)
In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, projectiles light up the night sky over Jerusalem during an Iranian missile attack, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Traces are seen over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Smoke rises after a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Missiles illuminate the night sky Jerusalem during an Iranian missile attack, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
People watch to traces over Jerusalem during a missile attack alert, on Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
An explosion is seen during a missile attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — If it's a new year, it must be serious tennis time Down Under.
Just over six weeks since the ATP and WTA held their respective 2025 Finals, players on the men's and women's tours are arriving in Australia and New Zealand for a crammed two-week schedule of tournaments ahead of the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam event starting Jan. 18 in Melbourne.
Leading the way is the United Cup, a mixed teams event which will be played in Perth and Sydney beginning Friday and finishing Jan. 11. The tournament will feature four of the world’s top 10 men and women including Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Iga Świątek, Alexander Zverev, Jasmine Paolini and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Also during the first full week of 2026, the Brisbane International will be headlined by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, fresh off the Battle of the Sexes exhibition against Nick Kyrgios in Dubai. Also on from Jan. 4-10 is the Canberra International, a joint ATP Challenger and WTA 125 tournament in Australia's capital city.
But missing from the pre-Australian Open tournaments are the two biggest names in men's tennis: No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and second-ranked Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz and Sinner — who have won nine of the last 10 Grand Slam singles titles, with Sinner winning the 2025 Australian Open — have decided to play an exhibition at Incheon, South Korea on Jan. 10. After the exhibition, it's expected they'll fly to Australia to begin their preparations at Melbourne Park.
Alcaraz will be playing his first major in seven years without coach Juan Carlos Ferrero — the Spanish player recently announced their split. Alcaraz has not announced a replacement.
Other players at the United Cup, which begins Friday with Greece taking on Japan in Perth, include Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Stan Wawrinka, who has said 2026 will be his last year on tour.
The 40-year-old, three-time major winner Wawrinka says he hopes to improve on his current ranking of 157 and move back into the top 100 before he retires. His highest ranking was No. 3, achieved when he won the Australian Open in 2014.
“I’m happy with the decision (to retire) and feeling at peace with that," Wawrinka said when he arrived earlier this week in Perth.
Joining Sabalenka at the 500-level Brisbane International will be two-time major finalist Amanda Anisimova, WTA Finals champion Elena Rybakina, reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva.
The 18-year-old Andreeva is tipped to be the next big thing in women’s tennis and she could renew her rivalry with Sabalenka in Brisbane. Sabalenka leads 4-2 in the head-to-head matches but world No. 9 Andreeva had a three-set win in the Indian Wells final in 2025.
The Russian also made it to the quarterfinals at last year’s French Open and Wimbledon along with the semis at Roland Garros in 2024 when at 17 she became the youngest to reach the final four in a major since Martina Hingis at the 1997 U.S. Open.
“Maybe the rivalry (with Sabalenka) is a little bit there but she is leading ... unfortunately ... for now,” Andreeva told Australian Associated Press this week.
Andreeva lost to Sabalenka in the semifinals in Brisbane in 2025 and again in the fourth round at the Australian Open before her victory at Indian Wells where she was the youngest winner since Serena Williams.
“That gave me a lot of confidence. Winning Indian Wells is a milestone of my career so far,” she said.
In the second week of the warm-up events, the joint ATP- WTA Adelaide International featuring 24-time Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic will run from Jan. 12-17 as well as a WTA 250 tournament at Hobart, Australia.
Auckland, New Zealand will host a WTA tournament from Jan. 5-11 before the ATP plays at the same venue from Jan. 12-17. Kyrgios and Frances Tiafoe are scheduled to play in an exhibition tournament at Kooyong in Melbourne several days before the Australian Open begins.
And in the only warm-up tournament being played outside Australia or New Zealand, Hong Kong will host an ATP event from Jan. 5-11.
The ATP events will come under a new rule for 2026 to address extreme heat during men’s matches that will allow for 10-minute breaks during best-of-three-sets singles matches and is similar to what was put in place on the WTA more than 30 years ago.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Aryna Sabalenka acknowledges the crowd after losing against Nick Kyrgios in their Battle of the Sexes match, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (Christopher Pike/Pool Photo via AP)