Swiatek’s Soreness Clouds Poland’s United Cup Breakthrough
Poland savors its first United Cup title in Sydney, but Iga Swiatek’s tears and mid-match treatment raise alarms just days before the Australian Open.
In the charged air of Ken Rosewall Arena, Poland claimed the United Cup at last, snapping a streak of final defeats with a gritty mixed doubles win that silenced Switzerland’s surge. Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski sealed the 6-4, 6-3 decision over Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul, their net poaching and crosscourt returns turning the tide under the closed roof. The victory, worth $17 million in prestige, marked a maiden crown after losses in 2024 and 2025, yet the joy felt tempered by concerns over Iga Swiatek‘s visible struggles.
Hubert Hurkacz had earlier evened the tie with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 battle against Stan Wawrinka, the 40-year-old Swiss captain whose one-handed backhand whipped inside-in with slice that tested the Pole’s footing on the slick hardcourts. Wawrinka, feeding off the crowd’s frenzy with heart gestures after every clawed-back point, nearly dragged his underdogs to glory. Hurkacz steadied by varying his serve with heavy topspin, opening the court for down-the-line forehands that exploited the veteran’s fading mobility in the decider.
“Everything is fine. Just super sore,” she said. “First tournament of the year, it causes the body (to feel) a bit different. Differently than during the season. But I had similar experience last year also, so I’ll just get good recovery, a couple of days off. Also, these team events, I really love them, but they really take a lot of energy from you. So I still need to figure out how to balance that maybe in the future because I get so excited on the bench. it’s almost like playing a match, honestly, so, yeah, it’s all good.”
Swiatek’s baseline grip slips in Sydney
Bencic’s 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 upset over Swiatek flipped the tie, the Swiss star’s flat returns neutralizing the world No. 2’s 1–2 pattern of serve and topspin forehand on the faster surface. Swiatek called for treatment after a rare bagel set, her inside-out shots floating long as frustration mounted, culminating in a racquet toss and tears. This followed a straight-sets loss to Coco Gauff the night before, where her groundstrokes lacked depth against the American’s pace.
Even in victory over Maya Joint on Friday, tears appeared at the first changeover, hinting at the emotional and physical toll of the season opener. Bencic, the tournament MVP with five straight singles wins and four doubles triumphs alongside Paul, built on her Tokyo Olympic gold to deny Swiatek a clean sheet. The Pole’s heavy spin, honed on clay, struggled to grip Sydney’s hardcourts, allowing opponents to dictate with crosscourt winners that pulled her wide.
Wawrinka’s spark ignites Swiss resistance
The 40-year-old Wawrinka, captaining the 16th-seeded Swiss, embodied underdog fire, his backhand down-the-line passes slicing through Hurkacz’s defenses in the opening set. He rallied fans into a roar, gesturing love hearts after extending the second set, his drop shots teasing the lines to force errors. Hurkacz countered with aggressive net rushes after big serves, his forehand crosscourts opening angles that Wawrinka couldn’t cover as stamina waned.
This clash pulsed with veteran guile against rising power; Wawrinka’s flat shots thrived early, but the Pole’s topspin variations pushed him deep, disrupting rhythm on the grippy surface. The win steadied Poland after Swiatek’s defeat, showcasing Hurkacz’s mental pivot under national pressure. Switzerland’s near-fairytale, fueled by Bencic’s perfect 10-0 streak before the doubles loss, wilted against Kawa and Zielinski’s steady volleys and poaching.
Melbourne looms with recovery questions
Poland’s breakthrough buoys the team, but Swiatek heads to Melbourne Park on Monday with her six-time Grand Slam game under a microscope, fresh off a 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final last July that snared her third major leg. At 24, the world No. 2 faces Aryna Sabalenka‘s shadow, the top-ranked Belarusian cementing favoritism with a third straight Brisbane title on Sunday. Swiatek’s closest pursuer status demands a rebound; her Sydney meltdowns, including bench excitement draining energy, signal a need for balance in team events.
The United Cup’s intensity, mirroring hardcourt demands ahead of the Australian Open starting next Sunday, exposed vulnerabilities—Swiatek’s defense bending under flat trajectories from Bencic and Gauff. Tactical tweaks, like incorporating more backhand slice to jam returns, could help on Melbourne’s bounce. Poland’s $17 million triumph provides momentum, yet her path forward hinges on turning soreness into sharpness, silencing doubts as the major unfolds.