Poland Edges Germany in United Cup Thriller
Hubert Hurkacz’s ace barrage stuns Alexander Zverev, then Iga Swiatek battles back from the edge to deliver Poland a 2-0 win in Sydney, igniting Group F with raw determination.
In the charged atmosphere of Ken Rosewall Arena, Poland opened their United Cup campaign with a gritty 2-0 victory over Germany in Group F. Hubert Hurkacz, returning from seven months sidelined by knee surgery, overpowered world No. 3 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, his serve firing 21 aces and facing just one break point in 83 minutes. The stage belonged to Iga Swiatek next, who absorbed early punishment from Eva Lys before mounting a comeback that sealed the tie and set a resilient tone for the 2026 season.
“it’s been a while since I’ve been competing. Seven months I’ve been going through difficult times with the team and it was very challenging,” Hurkacz said. “They were all supporting me, they were all behind me. We went through definitely a long period of time not competing and not knowing when we [would] be able to be back on court again. I was just trying to cherish and enjoy every moment here on the court today.”
Swiatek trailed a set and a break against Lys, who seized the opener 6-3 with sharp crosscourt forehands that pinned the Pole deep. The German, fresh off a win over Suzan Lamens in her United Cup debut, extended her lead to 3-1 in the second, her flat shots thriving on the Sydney hard courts’ speed. But Swiatek, drawing on her 31-1 streak in recent matches against players outside the top 40, reeled off five straight games to level at 6-3, her heavy topspin starting to dictate rallies as the crowd’s murmurs built to cheers.
Hurkacz redirects Zverev’s power
Hurkacz’s last competitive action came in June at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, a drought that dropped him to No. 83 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Against Zverev’s baseline grinding, he unleashed a one–two pattern—booming first serves followed by down-the-line backhands—that kept returns at bay. The break at 3-3 in the second set arrived via a crisp backhand redirect up the line, his movement sharp despite the July arthroscopic procedure, turning the match into a serving clinic that echoed through the arena.
The Pole’s rhythm on serve created openings Zverev couldn’t exploit, with Infosys ATP Stats tracking just that lone break point. As Poland surged ahead in the tie, Hurkacz’s performance hinted at a swift climb back toward his former No. 6 perch, easing the load on his teammate for the decider. Check the United Cup: Scores and Standings for how this result reshapes Group F.
STOP THAT Hubert Hurkacz 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/HIFeot4St3
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2026
Swiatek steadies amid Lys surge
The third set seesawed after Swiatek broke to 3-1, only for Lys to level at 3-3 with a forehand winner down-the-line that caught the line. Swiatek, her United Cup record now at 12-2, reset with deeper breaths and varied her backhand slice to pull Lys off the baseline, breaking in the 10th game via an inside-out forehand that the German stretched for but missed. The 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win, lasting just under 2½ hours, hinged on second-serve edges—Swiatek claiming 52% of points to Lys’s 39%, while first serves split evenly at 54% and 53%.
Lys had never taken more than two games per set in their six prior WTA meetings, yet her early aggression forced Swiatek to adapt on the grippy hard courts where balls skid low. The Pole’s tactical pivot—mixing underspin to disrupt pace—flipped the momentum, her composure under the arena’s glare turning potential upset into control. This rally not only avenged the slow start but reinforced Poland’s depth as the tournament heats up.
JAZDA!!! pic.twitter.com/W22wmhQYF2
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 5, 2026
Hard-court momentum builds for Poles
Hurkacz wrapped his day noting the joy of return: “I was serving quite well. I was finding nice spots, so that’s definitely a nice feeling to really have good rhythm on the serve. Just so pleased with the performance and just also so much fun to see the fans again.” His aces neutralized Zverev’s returns, a blueprint for handling top-tier power on this surface. Swiatek’s adjustments against Lys’s flat hitting showcased mental fortitude, her breaks at crucial junctures amplifying the crowd’s energy into a wave that carried Poland forward.
Germany’s straight-sets losses add pressure to their group path, with Zverev’s baseline game exposed and Lys’s fight earning nods despite the defeat. Poland’s blend of serve dominance and comeback grit positions them strongly, eyes on deeper runs amid the United Cup’s national rivalries. As the Australian swing unfolds, this Sydney tie underscores how early resilience shapes the year’s biggest battles.
