Poland has advanced to the final of the United Cup, set to face either the United States or Czechia, after a dominant performance against Kazakhstan on Saturday at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Hubert Hurkacz set the tone for the day by giving Poland a 1-0 lead, defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko in commanding fashion with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in just 57 minutes. World No. 2 Iga Świątek followed suit, overcoming a tough challenge from 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. After trailing by a break in the first set, Świątek battled back to secure a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win.
Despite strapping her upper right leg due to a thigh issue sustained during her quarter-final win over Katie Boulter two days prior, the five-time Grand Slam champion showed no signs of discomfort during Saturday’s match, easing any injury concerns.
As Poland waits for its final opponent, the top-seeded U.S. team, led by Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff, will take on Czechia’s Tomas Machac and Karolina Muchova in the evening semi-final. Regardless of who advances, Poland will pose a formidable challenge in the final.
Hurkacz, who had lost to Casper Ruud and Machac in the group stage, has been in outstanding form since. After defeating Billy Harris in straight sets in the quarter-finals, the world No. 16 was dominant against Shevchenko, firing 10 aces en route to his victory.
“Every match is getting better, and I’m really happy with my performance,” Hurkacz said following his victory.
Świątek’s match against Rybakina proved to be a test of resilience. After Rybakina broke her early in the first set and Świątek faced a 5-3 deficit, she staged a remarkable comeback. She broke Rybakina back and saved two set points in a tense game that lasted over 13 minutes. The set eventually went to a tiebreak, where Świątek emerged victorious in 72 minutes.
In the second set, Świątek broke Rybakina in the seventh game and held firm to save a late break point, sealing the 123-minute win.
“I didn’t start well, and it felt like I had the handbrake on,” Świątek admitted. “I knew I had to turn things around, and I’m happy I did that at the last possible moment in the first set. This win means a lot to me, especially after such an intense day on Thursday.”
Both Hurkacz and Świątek are in top form, positioning Poland for a tough battle in the United Cup final, regardless of the matchup.
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