Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz steer Poland into United Cup final
Poland will face either the US or the Czech Republic in the United Cup final after beating Kazakhstan at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Saturday.
Hubert Hurkacz gave Poland a 1-0 lead in the draw after beating Alexander Shevchenko 6-3 6-2 in just 57 minutes. World No. 2 Swiatek had to fight much harder in her singles match against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, but she managed to post a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win after a breakdown in the opening set.
Swiatek had her right upper leg bandaged after twisting her thigh during her quarter-final singles victory over Katie Boulter two days earlier, but the five-time Grand Slam winner came through Saturday’s match well to allay injury fears.
Top-seeded American duo Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff will start as heavy favorites against Czech Tomas Machac and Karolina Muchova in Saturday night’s semi-final. But whichever country makes it to Sunday’s decider, they will face a fierce challenge from Poland.
Hurkacz lost to Casper Ruud and Machac during the United Cup group stages, but has been on fire ever since. The world number 16 beat Billy Harris in straight sets during Poland’s quarter-final win over Great Britain, sending 10 aces to one against Shevchenko on Saturday.
“I’m playing better and better with every match. I am happy with my performance,” said Hurkacz.
World No. 6 Rybakina broke Swiatek early in Saturday’s semi-final match, serving for the first set with a 5-3 lead.
Swiatek broke back and then had two set points in a Rybakina service game that lasted more than 13 minutes. Rybakina eventually managed to hold on, but Swiatek was too good in the tiebreak and took the set in 72 minutes.
Swiatek broke to love in the seventh game of the second set and then saved a late break point to seal the 123-minute victory.
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“I definitely didn’t start well. It kind of felt like I was on a hand break,” Swiatek said. “I knew I had to do something because this match was going to be lost.
“I changed the momentum and I’m happy I did that at the last possible chance in the first set. It means a lot to me to be able to play today, especially after such an intense day [two days earlier in the quarter-final win over Great Britain].
“It’s not easy to recover when you go back to the hotel at one in the morning and fall asleep at five in the morning. So this victory makes me really proud.”