Poland’s top two players, Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Świątek, both won their singles matches to help Poland win their quarterfinal clash with Great Britain in the United Cup.
Hurkacz was first on court in Australia, defeating Billy Harris 7:6(3), 7:5 in a tight encounter.
The first set was dominated by long rallies, mostly from the back of the court, which Hurkacz generally had the upper hand in. Despite being moments of imprecision, he held his nerve in the tiebreak to take the opening set.
At 5:5 the world No. 16 took advantage of a few errors by Harris to break the Brit. Hurkacz then played a faultless final game to seal the match.
Iga Świątek came flying out of the blocks against Katie Boulter, taking a 4:1 lead in the first set but the Brit came storming back to edge out the Pole in a tiebreak 7:6.
The British world No. 24 stunned the Pole, taking the third game by a break to love. This was followed by a medical break, in which Świątek received treatment to her thigh.
When she returned to court, she appeared to be playing through discomfort but it certainly did not affect the intensity of the match, which, if anything, became elevated.
Świątek’s victory means that Poland have qualified for the semifinals and makes the mixed doubles match largely inconsequential. Poland will face Kazakhstan on Saturday, with a place in the final up for grabs.
The United Cup is a relatively new tournament, having had its first final in 2023. It takes place across December and January. The international hard court tennis competition features teams from 18 countries, competing in singles and mixed doubles.
The first set was dominated by long rallies, mostly from the back of the court, which Hurkacz generally had the upper hand in. Despite being moments of imprecision, he held his nerve in the tiebreak to take the opening set.
Harris defied his more than 100-place difference between the two in the world ranking by putting Hurkacz on the back foot in the second set. However, when the world No. 125 passed up three consecutive break points, Hurkacz once again found his rhythm on his serve."Even Todd Woodbridge is gonna love that!"@HubertHurkacz | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/OKVx5q863b
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
At 5:5 the world No. 16 took advantage of a few errors by Harris to break the Brit. Hurkacz then played a faultless final game to seal the match.
Świątek wins a thriller
Iga Świątek came flying out of the blocks against Katie Boulter, taking a 4:1 lead in the first set but the Brit came storming back to edge out the Pole in a tiebreak 7:6.
The world No. 2 looked back to her dominant best in the second set (6:1). Just as Świątek appeared to be in the ascendancy coming into the deciding set, further drama unfolded with both players raising their levels.Swiatek starting off strong 💪
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
She takes a 3-0 lead against Boulter in the first 🔥#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/TKVjczAx0f
The British world No. 24 stunned the Pole, taking the third game by a break to love. This was followed by a medical break, in which Świątek received treatment to her thigh.
When she returned to court, she appeared to be playing through discomfort but it certainly did not affect the intensity of the match, which, if anything, became elevated.
At 4:4, Świątek held her nerve at break point and turned the game around. She went on to break Boulter in the tenth game of the set and finally claim an exhausting match 6:7, 6:1, 6:4.A fight to the very end! 🤯🤯🤯@iga_swiatek leaves it all on the court to defeat Boulter in a three set thriller 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4. #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/gcahTD1xZM
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
Świątek’s victory means that Poland have qualified for the semifinals and makes the mixed doubles match largely inconsequential. Poland will face Kazakhstan on Saturday, with a place in the final up for grabs.
The United Cup is a relatively new tournament, having had its first final in 2023. It takes place across December and January. The international hard court tennis competition features teams from 18 countries, competing in singles and mixed doubles.
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