VIDEO SHOWS: UNITED CUP'S TEAM CANADA AND CHINA AT SYDNEY ZOO / SOUNDBITES FROM PLAYERS RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 31, 2025) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA – Editorial use only. No resales. No monetisation) 1. KOALA STATUE OUTSIDE OF SYDNEY ZOO 2. VARIOUS OF TEAM CANADA PLAYERS AT ZOO/INTERACTING WITH ANIMALS 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM CANADA TENNIS PLAYER, FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME ON 2025 SEASON, SAYING: "Yes, probably. I've had my best year in my career so far in 2025. This is the last day of the year. It's already December 31st. Looking back on this year, it was an amazing year. Great milestones. I'm looking to keep going in 2026." 4. TEAM CANADA PLAYERS AT ZOO FEEDING KANGAROOS 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM CANADA TENNIS PLAYER, FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME ON U.S. OPEN RUN, SAYING: "It was great. I've had good results in other tournaments. But maybe not as much in big events, such as the Grand Slam. It was good to be back in the US Open semi-finals. I have great memories playing in Australia in the past. I remember a couple of years ago, making a quarter-final run here. Feeling like I was close to my best level. Hopefully, I can go even further this year." 6. TEAM CANADA'S VICTORIA MBOKO INTERACTING WITH KOALA 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM CANADA TENNIS PLAYER, VICTORIA MBOKO, SAYING: "I always love playing for my country. I've played the Billie Jean King Cup before and it's a really fun experience. You always have so much support with the country behind you. I feel like it always makes me more proud to play and happier on court. I'm really excited." 8. VARIOUS OF TEAM CHINA PLAYERS AT ZOO 9. KANGAROO 10. TEAM CHINA'S ZHU LIN INTERACTING WITH KOALA 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM CHINA TENNIS PLAYER, ZHANG ZHIZHEN, SAYING: "This is always different, that's why the United Cup is a bit different than other tournaments. You cannot throw the match straight, you have to fight for every point. Even if you get one more point or one more set, you're helping for your team. That's how we did it last year. Also I like the team, it's kind of special. It's different than when you're playing for yourself." 12. ZHANG POSING WITH KOALA STATUE STORY: Team Canada and China's tennis stars, including Felix Auger-Aliassime and Zhang Zhizhen, visited a zoo in Sydney on Wednesday (December 31) ahead of their United Cup campaign. The players fed koalas and kangaroos at the Sydney zoo. The United Cup begins on Friday (January 2), and will serve as a warm-up for the Australian Open for some of the tournament's big names. All eyes will be on the Rod Laver Arena from January 12, when the first Grand Slam of 2026 gets underway. (Production: Aadi Nair)
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