Poland’s Power Duo Powers into United Cup Quarters
Hubert Hurkacz’s booming serves and Iga Swiatek’s steady fire carried Poland past the Netherlands, securing a quarterfinal clash with Australia amid renewed confidence on Sydney’s hard courts.
In the charged atmosphere of Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, Poland clinched its United Cup quarterfinals spot on Wednesday with a decisive 2-0 sweep over the Netherlands. Hubert Hurkacz set the tone early, overpowering Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6 (4) behind 20 aces and an unbreakable serve. Iga Swiatek followed suit, dismantling Suzan Lamens 6-3, 6-2 after a competitive start, her heavy topspin forehands turning the match decisively.
Hurkacz channels layoff into serving clinic
Returning from knee surgery that sidelined him since June 2025, Hurkacz wasted no time shaking off any rust, firing aces wide to the backhand and mixing in kick serves that skidded off the Plexicushion surface. He faced zero break points, holding serve routinely while Griekspoor’s returns landed short, allowing quick transitions into aggressive groundstrokes. This performance capped a strong tournament start for the former world No. 6, who had already dispatched Alexander Zverev in straight sets during group play.
The seven-month absence had left uncertainty, but the roar of the crowd seemed to fuel his focus, his inside-out forehands opening the court for down-the-line finishes in the tight second-set tiebreak. Poland needed just one win to advance, and Hurkacz delivered with poise, his calm demeanor belying the emotional weight of the comeback.
“Definitely didn’t know how I was going to start the season. Haven’t played for seven months, so you don’t really know what to expect,” Hurkacz said. “I was playing okay in the practice, but practice is so different from the match when you have so many emotions, you have fans around. I’m quite positively surprised and pleased with that performance out there.”
His perspective shifted by the layoff, Hurkacz stayed composed in pressure moments, varying his 1–2 patterns to keep Griekspoor off balance on a court that rewarded power and precision.
Swiatek sharpens serve after early wobbles
Swiatek’s opener against Eva Lys had exposed serve vulnerabilities with seven breaks, but against Lamens—a rematch from their three-set US Open battle last summer—she locked in, holding to love five times and claiming 84 percent of first-serve points while facing only one break opportunity. From 3-3 in the first set, she seized control, winning nine of the final 11 games with crosscourt winners that exploited Lamens’ defensive positioning. The hard-court bounce amplified her topspin, pushing the Dutchwoman deep and forcing errors in extended rallies.
Mentally, Swiatek absorbed the initial evenness, using slice backhands to disrupt rhythm before unleashing inside-in forehands that pinned Lamens back. Improving to 2-0 against her opponent, she conserved energy by avoiding mixed doubles, boosting team momentum for the knockouts. Check the Scores for the latest updates as Poland builds steam.
“I’m really happy that I found a way to be more solid in the middle of the first set because it was pretty even until then,” Swiatek said afterwards. “I felt like I had more control over the ball and could go for it. I’m really happy that we won this tie just with singles; it gives us good confidence going into the quarterfinals.”
Her adjustments highlighted a tactical edge in the mixed-teams format, where clean singles wins preserve depth for tougher ties ahead. View the Standings to see Poland’s group dominance solidify.
Australia showdown tests rising belief
With back-to-back runner-up finishes behind them, Poland now faces host Australia on Friday evening in Sydney, where Alex de Minaur’s speed and Ajla Tomljanovic’s baseline grit could challenge their patterns. Hurkacz’s ace-heavy game should test de Minaur’s returns on these fast hard courts, while Swiatek’s improved hold percentage positions her to dictate against Tomljanovic’s flat hitting. The crowd’s energy will intensify, but the Poles’ blend of firepower and mental reset suggests they’re primed for a breakthrough.
Hurkacz reflected on how the injury period reframed his approach, turning excitement into steady performance under pressure. “After such a long period you’re just so excited to be out there and it also gives you a different perspective on things,” he added. “I think that’s why I’m able to perform maybe better and even stay calm in the difficult moments.” As the quarterfinals loom, Poland’s stars carry quiet hunger, their victories a foundation for chasing that elusive United Cup title.
