SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 4, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Both the United States and Poland took care of their respective semifinal opponents – Czechia for Team USA and upstart Kazakhstan for the Polish – in similar fashion. Each nation clinched their last-four tie victories during singles. The United States advanced after Taylor Fritz won by retirement when Tomas Machac was forced to retire due to cramps and left knee pain. In the other tie, Iga Swiatek battled past her Top-10 rival Elena Rybakina in straight sets, which gave Poland an insurmountable 2-0 lead.
Sunday evening’s final inside Ken Rosewall Arena will match the top-seeded Americans, led by World No. 4 Fritz and World No. 3 Coco Gauff against last year’s finalists Poland, who will counter with former World No. 1 Swiatek and World No. 16 Hubert Hurkacz. If the final is tied 1-1 after singles, expect a mixed doubles decider pitting Fritz and Gauff versus Hurkacz and Swiatek.
Fritz, Gauff lead Americans into another United Cup final
Top-seeded United States, which won the inaugural United Cup title in 2023 behind Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula, returned to the final after defeating Czechia 3-0 Saturday evening.
World No. 3 Coco Gauff began the semifinal tie against the eighth-seeded team with a one-sided victory over No. 22 Karolina Muchova, 6-1, 6-4, in an hour and 26 minutes. She opened a 3-0 lead from the outset and saved a pair of break points in her final game to win the first set. Then, Gauff grabbed a 4-2 break lead in the second set that Muchova was never able to overcome.
Gauff struck eight aces, won 76 percent of her first-serve points, saved eight of nine break points and broke Muchova’s serve four times in eight opportunities. She outpointed her opponent 71-51.
Champion things @CocoGauff gives Team USA the 1-0 lead over Team Czechia with a win against Muchova 6-1, 6-4. #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/fketTMe2VY
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
The victory improved Gauff’s lifetime record against the Czech No. 2 to 4-0. She has never dropped a set against Muchova. However, the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
“It’s never easy against Karolina,” Gauff said during her on-court interview. “The whole match I was intense and focused and I think that made the difference today. Happy to get my team off to a good start in Sydney.”
Coco classic @CocoGauff puts Team USA on the board with a straight set win over Muchova. #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/Qt5YlcSNxU
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
Next, World No. 4 Fritz was pushed hard by No. 25 Tomas Machac of Czechia, who won a first-set tie-break to take the opener 7-6 (4). Soon, the Czech star was serving for the match at 5-3 but lost three straight games to the American. Then, he abruptly retired from the semifinal rubber due to cramps and left knee pain.
“He said he’d been cramping for a couple of games already,” Fritz said afterward, during his on-court interview. “I didn’t notice, but yeah. He was moving pretty well, but I guess he was playing through it, fighting. It’s really humid in here.
“That’s something I was thinking was a possibility if I could win that set, take it to a third. I was thinking maybe someone might start cramping later on. It’s tough conditions, it was a physical match.”
A blockbuster first set!
Tomas Machac takes the first set 7-6(4) over Fritz. #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/CWKUM3jFt5
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
The United States (4-0) will face last year’s runner-up Poland (4-0) in Sunday’s final.
“It’s great to be back,” Fritz said. “That was a crazy match, very physical and it’s not the way that I guess I want to win. But I think we’re all happy that we’re back in the final again.”
During Team USA’s post-match news conference, Gauff said she’s excited to face Swiatek on Sunday.
“Yeah, I’m feeling great. I felt like I was playing good today,” she said. “Obviously, Iga is a tough opponent. … I haven’t thought about it too much yet. But yeah, I think it’s going to be a great level of tennis and super excited to go out there tomorrow and hopefully bring the Cup back home.”
The final awaits
Team USA will battle it out for the title against Team Poland tomorrow…
x #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/OExajKZAQy
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
Team Poland reaches United Cup final for second straight year
Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek provided Poland with a solid 1-2 punch against Kazakhstan Saturday afternoon. In a tussle between Top-10 foes, the World No. 2 Swiatek battled past World No. 6 Elena Rybakina, 7-5 (5), 6-4, in two hours and four minutes to clinch the semifinal tie for the Polish. Poland later made it a clean sweep 3-0 by winning the dead rubber mixed doubles.
While the 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina brought a 4-2 head-to-head advantage into their semifinal tie clash, thanks to her powerful and deep-hitting ground strokes, Swiatek persevered through the lengthy battle. It included a 13-minute 12th game in the opening set that forced a tie-break. Swiatek put away the opening set on her fourth chance after 72 minutes of play.
Then, Swiatek broke for a 4-3 lead in the second set and saved a break point in the final game to close out the victory and clinch the tie. The triumph improved Swiatek’s United Cup win-loss record to 12-1.
Swiatek outpointed Rybakina 82-75. Although she scored three few points on her serve than Rybakina, Swiatek won 10 more points on her return.
A stellar match
And what a way to end it, @iga_swiatek! #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/3x1JLHwtpf
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
“I think that’s the first time I was able to win with Elena on a faster surface, so it means a lot,” Swiatek said during her on-court interview. “I for sure didn’t start well. I felt like I [was] on the hand-brake a bit.
“I wanted to really work and change the momentum, and I’m happy that I kind of did that at the last possible chance in the first set. I kind of told myself that I’m not going to miss anymore, and I’m happy because for sure it was tough. It’s always tough against Elena.”
Earlier, the World No. 16 Hurkacz needed just 58 minutes to defeat No. 78 Alexander Shevchenko, 6-3, 6-2, behind a massive service attack that produced 10 aces. Hurkacz won 80 percent of his first-serve points, faced no break points, broke his opponent’s serve three times in four chances and outpointed Shevchenko 58-37. He improved to 4-0 against the Kazakhstani.
The moment @HubertHurkacz sealed the deal #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/APq3jY6Af9
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
After losing his first two matches in group play, against World No. Casper Ruud of Norway and No. 25 Tomas Machac of Czechia, Hurkacz has played solidly in defeating No. 125 Billy Harris of Great Britain in the quarterfinals and Shevchenko in the semifinals.
“The last match here gave me a little bit of confidence and I’ve been playing better with every single match,” Hurkacz said during his on-court remarks.
Later, during his team’s post-match news conference, Hurkacz added: “Definitely happy with my performance, some of the things started to click.
“Looking forward to tomorrow.”
BACK TO BACK
Team Poland are #UnitedCup finalists for the second year in a row! pic.twitter.com/oYnuwJBcAq
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 4, 2025
Around the United Cup
While Polish stars Iga Swiatek (4-0) and Hubert Hurkacz (2-2) have elevated their respective games in reaching the United Cup final for the second straight year, there has also been a “secret weapon” sharing a prime seat on Team Poland’s bench inside Ken Rosewall Arena that many fans on hand and TV viewers tuned in around the world may have noticed by now.
Flami the flamingo is back #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/G779hvhQH9
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 1, 2025
The secret weapon is a pink flamingo floatation device the team brought back with them after visiting Wylie’s Baths, a heritage-listed tidal swimming pool located near Coogee Beach, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, during one of their day-off activities last week. Polish team captain Mateusz Terczynski has even given the pink flamingo a nickname: Flami.
Iga Swiatek and Flami (photo: Tennis Australia/James Gourley)
“It was brought to us to support us on the ocean pool to keep us afloat,” Hurkacz said during his team’s post-match news conference after defeating Kazakhstan 3-0 in the semifinal round Saturday.
“That’s what it’s doing for us in the matches.”
Swiatek added: “Well, I’m not a good swimmer, so for sure I survived because of it at the beginning of the tournament. That’s why I’m able to still be here. So, thank you, flamingo.”
Sunday’s United Cup order of play
By the numbers
En route to Sunday’s United Cup final, Iga Swiatek has dropped just one set in her four matches, against Katie Boulter of Great Britain in Poland’s 3-0 quarterfinal tie victory. She is 4-0 going into her singles rubber against Coco Gauff.
Swiatek has also reached the semifinals or better in her last five events representing Poland: 2023 United Cup (semifinals), 2024 United Cup (final), 2024 Paris Olympics (semifinals), 2024 Billie Jean King Cup (semifinals), 2025 United Cup (final).
“Quotable …”
“Poland’s got a great team … But we have such good energy. Coco and Taylor are playing great and they fight.
“Hubi serves cannons. Iga moves great, but so does Coco and she’s playing well. Taylor’s playing great. I think keys to the match are coming out and fighting like Coco and Taylor did so well today.
“It’s going to come down to maybe a few points, but we have a great bench behind us, too. So, it will be fun.”
– United States team captain Michael Russell, during Team USA’s post-match news conference, on the keys to victory.
