Poland’s Doubles Resolve Clinches United Cup Final Berth
Amid Sydney’s scorching heat, Poland’s mixed doubles pair outlasted a battling U.S. team in tiebreak tension, capping Coco Gauff’s upset over Iga Świątek and securing a showdown with Switzerland.
In Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena, where the air shimmered under a forecast of 109 Fahrenheit, Poland punched their ticket to the United Cup final with a mixed doubles masterclass. The heat prompted organizers to advance the start by 30 minutes, yet the court remained a cauldron of strategy and stamina as tiebreaks defined the decider. Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski edged Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), their poise turning American momentum into Polish triumph.
Gauff‘s surge levels the tie
Fourth-ranked Gauff, the French Open champion, dismantled No. 2 Iga Świątek 6-4, 6-2, marking her fourth straight win over the six-time Grand Slam singles champion and recent Wimbledon winner. Gauff’s heavy topspin forehands pinned Świątek deep, disrupting the Pole’s rhythm and exposing cracks in her baseline defense. This straight-sets upset evened the matchup at 1-1, injecting fresh energy into the U.S. squad after Hubert Hurkacz had opened with a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) victory over Taylor Fritz.
Hurkacz relied on his booming serve and down-the-line backhands to hold off Fritz‘s powerful returns, dictating points with a crisp 1–2 pattern that neutralized the American’s aggression on the hard court. The tiebreaks tested both men’s endurance, but Poland’s slight edge in placement prevailed, setting a taut stage for the women’s singles. Gauff fed off the crowd’s rising pulse, her inside-out winners slicing through the pressure as Świątek‘s usual composure frayed under the relentless baseline exchanges.
Mixed decider tests partnerships
Kawa and Zielinski, riding momentum from their quarterfinal decider win against Australia, absorbed Gauff’s net poaching and Harrison‘s volleys with calculated returns. Zielinski’s passing shots down-the-line pierced the American setup in the first-set tiebreak, while Kawa’s underspin backhands skidded low to force errors in the second. Their synergy—blending slice serves with quick reflexes—outlasted the heat’s drain on stamina, unraveling the U.S. pair’s early crosscourt rallies.
For Gauff and Harrison, the shift from singles glory to doubles demands exposed fragile edges; Harrison’s footing slipped on the sweat-slicked surface, and Gauff’s returns lost bite against Zielinski’s holds. Świątek rushed courtside to join the Polish celebration, her embrace a spark of national unity amid the exhaustion. The loss stung the Americans, a reminder of how team events amplify the swing between individual highs and collective setbacks.
Switzerland sets final stage
Poland now faces Switzerland in Sunday’s final, after Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul overcame Belgium’s Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 in their mixed doubles decider. Bencic’s adjustments in the super tiebreak—mixing aggressive net approaches with drop shots—mirrored Poland’s resilience, turning the match on the warming hard court. This United Cup run underscores Poland’s doubles depth, positioning them to chase the title where mental fortitude meets tactical precision on Sydney’s pacey surface.