"Exciting for the fans": Iga Swiatek, Hubert Hurkacz get another shot at U.S. in United Cup semifinals

At two of the first three United Cups, the U.S. dashed Poland’s hopes of standing on top.

Come Saturday, Poland will get another crack at the American squad after ending Australia’s bid.

In a rare winner-take-all mixed doubles match that did not feature Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski rose to the occasion in securing a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith. Kawa and Zielinski had previously won a pair of dead rubbers against Germany and the Netherlands during Group F action.

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Swiatek raced to the finish line to kick off the tie by dispatching 19-year-old Maya Joint, 6-1, 6-1. The world No. 2 converted five of her eight break chances en route to closing out a 57-minute victory.

“I had a clear plan of what I wanted to do. I just focused on that,” Swiatek told press. “Wanted to be intensive from the beginning, put pressure on Maya, and it worked.”

Home favorite Alex de MInaur gave locals hope when he held off Hurkacz, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to level the scoreboard, before the No. 9-seeded nation regrouped to claim the quarterfinal battle.

In each of Poland’s prior two defeats to the Americans, Swiatek and Hurkacz were unable to put points on the board. Swiatek dropped her respective singles matches to Jessica Pegula in 2023 and Coco Gauff last year, while Hurkacz twice came up short against Taylor Fritz.

Revenge is on the table, with Gauff and Fritz running it back this week for the defending champions.

“For sure it's a good match, like exciting for the fans I think. But I'll focus on my singles. Obviously we know each other's game pretty well with Coco,” said Swiatek.

“The key for me will be just to focus on myself, try to implement the stuff that I worked on during the pre-season and be brave with the decisions. Yeah, we'll see.”

Honestly after last year's tournament, I didn't really analyze this match that much. I was already kind of focused on Australian Open. For sure I'm going to sit with Wim tomorrow and he will watch it and give me the tips. Iga Swiatek

Hurkacz, who missed seven months of competition prior to making a winning return at this event, was similar in his sentiment.

“It's going to be a fun challenge to play against him,” the two-time ATP Masters 1000 champion said. “We played in the finals last year. It was a close battle. Will try to be a bit better this year.”

Switzerland faces Belgium in the first semifinal on the back of Stan Wawrinka being announced as the final men's singles wild card recipient for this month's Australian Open.