SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 3, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Two of the top three-ranked WTA players have played key roles in leading their respective teams into the United Cup semifinals taking place in Sydney on Saturday.
Both Coco Gauff of the United States and Poland’s Iga Swiatek have gone undefeated in singles – each winning three matches – to start the 2025 season Down Under in Australia. They’ve also contributed to their team’s mixed doubles success, too.
The World No. 3 Gauff, who won the WTA Finals title to cap an impressive 2024 season, has performed solidly in her United Cup debut for the top-seeded Americans. In her first three outings of the new season, she has scored a trio of straight-set wins over Donna Vekic of Croatia (6-4, 6-2), Leylah Fernandez of Canada (6-3, 6-2) and Zhang Shuai of China (7-6 [4], 6-2).
Shifting gears with @CocoGauff ️#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/0LLXAbGLjA
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 1, 2025
In Gauff’s next match, in Saturday’s semifinal round, she will face No. 22 Karolina Muchova of Czechia (2-1), a formidable opponent, who dropped just four games to World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini of Italy in winning 6-2, 6-2 Friday evening. Gauff is 3-0 against the Czech star lifetime. All three victories have been on hard courts, including their most recent meeting in the 2024 Beijing final, which Gauff won 6-1, 6-3.
“I’m having so much fun,” Gauff said New Year’s Night following Team USA’s 3-0 quarterfinal-round victory over China in Perth. “We have a great team, great vibes all around, and excited that we were able to move on to the next round of the tournament and hopefully all the way to the end.”
Queen Coco is in the house tonight #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/868mVN0tVH
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 1, 2025
Gauff, 20, was asked how a mixed team concept, in which she has excelled in both singles and mixed doubles, compares to the matches she will get in a Grand Slam. After all, not only is she 3-0 in singles, she’s also 2-0 in mixed doubles with Taylor Fritz.
“I mean, I want to win all the time. So, I wouldn’t say it’s more stakes or not,” Gauff said. “Definitely, it’s a lot more relaxed on the changeovers, laughing a little bit more, you know, just talking. In general, things that we don’t get when we’re playing our regular tournament.
“Yeah, I think it’s great to start the year off on this relaxed vibe, especially coming from off season, which is pretty chill. Yeah, I think this is a good transition into our regular schedule.”
DONE AND DUSTED
Team USA finish the 2024 year with a stellar win against Team Croatia 6-2 6-3 #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/iHJvRCizfW
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 31, 2024
Meanwhile, the World No. 2 Swiatek was pushed to three sets – and nearly three hours on Ken Rosewall Arena – by Great Britain’s Katie Boulter before pulling out a 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4 victory that clinched Poland’s quarterfinal-round tie against the British Thursday night. She has been consistently strong in Sydney, with earlier wins over Malene Helgø of Norway (6-1, 6-0) and Karolina Muchova of Czechia (6-3, 6-4).
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
Next, Swiatek will face undefeated World No. 6 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in a semifinal matchup on Saturday. In six career skirmishes, Rybakina has won four of the six. They split two meetings during the 2024 season, with Swiatek winning at Doha on a hard court and Rybakina at Stuttgart on indoor clay
The 23-year-old Polish star looks forward to the challenge of playing a Top-10 player like Rybakina this early in the new season. “Especially before a Grand Slam,” she said, during Team Poland’s post-match news conference early Friday after defeating Great Britain 3-0 to advance to the last four. “Elena likes playing in Australia, so for sure it’s going to be a challenge.
“I think these matches that I played will help me, because I know what I need to do after playing them, and kind of I got through some tough moments. So, it’s not going to be so new, like, on the next one.”
Leaving it ALL on the court! @iga_swiatek secures the win for Team Poland and the quarterfinal spot will all come down to mixed doubles! #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/JBV20Eoua9
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 1, 2025
