SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 2, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
For nearly three hours inside Ken Rosewall Arena, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter went toe-to-toe with former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland in their quarterfinal-round women’s singles match at the United Cup in Sydney.
With the match tied at a set each and the score 4-all in the third set, Swiatek faced a crucial break point on her serve at 30-40 in the final set, where she needed to find her best when it mattered most. The World No. 2 hit a third-shot, backhand winner that brilliantly painted the sideline. It nullified a break-point chance for Boulter and, soon, Swiatek held serve for 5-4.
A fight to the very end! @iga_swiatek leaves it all on the court to defeat Boulter in a three set thriller 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4. #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/gcahTD1xZM
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
In the next game, the best returner in the women’s game broke Boulter at love to win, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4, in in two hours and 57 minutes. It gave 2024 finalist Poland an insurmountable 2-0 lead over Great Britain. The underdog British appeared crushed by the loss but Boulter gave it her best shot.
The Polish closed out their 3-0 tie victory as Maja Chwalinska and Jan Zielinski defeated Olivia Nicholls and Charles Broom, 6-2, 7-6 (3), in an hour and 23 minutes in mixed doubles.
A clean sweep!
Chwalinska and Zielinski defeat Nicholls and Broom to make it 3-0 for Poland. #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/Tv8Ho02EzU
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
“This match was crazy,” Swiatek, 23, said during her on-court interview, after being pushed to three sets for the first time at this United Cup. “So many changes of momentum. I thought I had it under control in the first set but for sure I got tight and I didn’t work on it. I didn’t want to repeat the mistake in the third.”
In their first career meeting, Boulter more than held her own. After World No. 16 Hubert Hurkacz put Poland ahead with a 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over No. 125 Billy Harris, behind a blistering offensive attack in which he fired 18 aces, dropped only six points on his first serve and saved all three break points he faced, it was up to Boulter to keep British hopes alive.
BOULTER ⚡
The Brit takes the first in a nail biting tie breaker against Swiatek! #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/1Dct8RSZu8
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
The 28-year-old World No. 24 from Leicester matched Swiatek in both her pace of shots and power of her groundstrokes. Unlike earlier wins against Nadia Podoroska of Argentina and Olivia Gadecki of Australia, both in straight sets, she would need to go the distance to beat Swiatek.
In the end, Swiatek’s experience carried her to her third straight win in Sydney, after previously defeating Malene Helgø of Norway and Karolina Muchova of Czechia, and it clinched Poland’s third consecutive semifinal berth. She finished with four aces, won 70 percent of her first-serve points, saved five of seven break points and broke Boulter’s serve six times in 10 opportunities. Swiatek outpointed her opponent 111-94.
Left it ALLLLL out there.
Bravo, both #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/AOBVfvXPaA
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
“I tried to keep pushing knowing that I had to keep up the quality,” Swiatek said, “because with quality I wouldn’t have to play these longer rallies if I’m more precise. But for sure it’s harder to be precise under so much pressure. But I made it today. For sure it’s a step forward. In some moments I knew I could be more brave and in the end I was able to so I was happy.”
This is what it means for Team Poland
They secure their spot in the semifinals #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/S52K8pTEDh
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
Around the United Cup
Friday’s quarterfinal-round tie between Group D winner Italy and Czechia, which advanced with the best second-place finish in Sydney, will fill out the last four lineup that already includes the United States, Kazakhstan and Poland.
During their post-match news conference Tuesday, after clinching their group with a 3-0 victory over France, Italy’s Flavio Cobolli and Jasmine Paolini were asked by a reporter to describe the importance of having crowd support for their matches in Sydney. After all, it was noted, Team Italy has been shown a lot of strong support from its fans.
Italia, Italia, Italia
See you in the quarterfinals #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/rIHOmFYBB6
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 31, 2024
“We are everywhere!” Cobolli quipped, smiling. “No, it’s nice because when you finish the point, you have all the crowd for you. It’s always nice. Also, the bench is always fire. I think it’s a nice thing.”
Paolini added: “Me too. I like personally when there are a lot of people watching. Here in this competition, every time there are a lot of people, especially in the afternoon, maybe at the early stages. It’s really nice. I like it. I like when there are a lot of Italians, of course.”
Friday’s United Cup order of play
By the numbers
Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, who defeated Great Britain’s Billy Harris in straight sets, earned the 150th tour-level hard-court win of his career with that victory. He’s now 5-0 against players ranked outside the Top 30 at the United Cup. Previously, Hurkacz lost to World No. 6 Casper Ruud of Norway and World No. 25 Tomas Machac of Czechia in group play.
A win for Team Poland @HubertHurkacz defeats Harris is straight sets for Team Poland to take the lead!#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/QP3f4a2gWo
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 2, 2025
“Quotable …”
“Definitely super pleased with myself. Today was a really difficult battle with Billy. He was playing some really great tennis and definitely really happy to get through this one.”
– Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, during his on-court interview, following his 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over Great Britain’s Billy Harris on Thursday.