Poland’s tennis team is riding high as they secured their place in the United Cup final for the second consecutive year, following a thrilling semifinal victory over Kazakhstan in Sydney on Saturday. The star-studded performances of Iga Świątek and Hubert Hurkacz were pivotal in the 3-0 clean sweep, setting up an exciting final clash against the 2023 champions, the United States.
Świątek Triumphs in a Top 10 Battle
Iga Świątek, the former World No. 1 and five-time Grand Slam champion, faced off against one of her toughest rivals, Elena Rybakina, in a nail-biting match. Świątek emerged victorious, defeating the 2022 Wimbledon champion 7-6(5), 6-4.
This victory was particularly significant for Świątek, as Rybakina had bested her in four of their previous six encounters. Reflecting on her win, Świątek said:
“I think that’s the first time I was able to win with Elena on a faster surface, so it means a lot. It’s always tough against Elena.”
Świątek’s match wasn’t without its challenges. Rybakina’s powerful shots initially left Świątek trailing 5-3 in the first set. However, Świątek showed her grit, breaking back and eventually clinching the set in a tense tiebreak. In the second set, she took control, breaking Rybakina at love to secure a 4-3 lead and ultimately the match. With this win, Świątek improved her impressive United Cup singles record to 12-1.
Hurkacz Shines in Redemption Arc
Earlier in the day, Hubert Hurkacz set the stage for Poland’s victory by defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in just 58 minutes. After a rocky start in the group stage, where he lost matches to Casper Ruud and Tomas Machac, Hurkacz found his rhythm in the knockout rounds.
Hurkacz’s dominance against Shevchenko was evident in his baseline play and commanding serve. He won 80% of his first-serve points and displayed exceptional accuracy, putting 76% of his first serves into play.
Reflecting on his journey in the tournament, Hurkacz said:
“The last match here gave me a little bit of confidence, and I’ve been playing better with every single match.”
Mixed Doubles Mastery
Poland capped off their semifinal performance with a decisive mixed doubles victory. Maja Chwalińska and Jan Zieliński defeated Zhibek Kulambayeva and Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1, completing the clean sweep in just over an hour.
The Road Ahead
Poland now prepares to face Team USA in the final. With Świątek and Hurkacz in top form, the Poles are poised to challenge the defending champions in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.
Stay tuned as Poland aims to lift the United Cup trophy and solidify their status as a dominant force in international tennis.
