Coco Gauff handed Iga Świątek another straight-sets loss, yet Poland still found a way to win the tie and reach the United Cup final, proving team tennis can be brutally efficient and occasionally heartwarming.
The night at Ken Rosewall Arena mixed top-tier singles with decisive doubles drama, as Gauff’s straight-sets victory set up a late mixed doubles showdown that Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zieliński won to send Poland through to Sunday’s final.
Gauff’s win, the numbers and the immediate fallout
“I thought I did everything well, served well, returned well,” Gauff told the WTA. “I thought it was a great match for me. I was hoping to get through in the mixed but overall there’s a lot of positives to take from today.”
Coco Gauff
Fourth-ranked Gauff, riding momentum from Roland Garros, beat World No 2 Świątek in commanding fashion, closing out the singles rubber 6-4, 6-2. The result extended her recent dominance over the Wimbledon champion to a remarkable sequence of four straight victories, all achieved in straight sets.
Poland’s tie had started well when Hubert Hurkacz edged Taylor Fritz in two tie-break sets, finishing 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) and putting the pressure back on the United States pairing. Hurkacz’s win provided the cushion that made the mixed doubles the deciding act for the tie.
The late mixed doubles drama belonged to Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zieliński, who repeatedly held their nerve in tie-breaks and beat Gauff and Christian Harrison 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) to clinch the semifinal. Iga Świątek raced over to join the celebration, underscoring the team emotion involved.
Poland’s run, history and what the win means
Poland will face Switzerland in Sunday’s final after avenging last year’s loss to the United States, and after two recent defeats in the decider, they have now returned to the title match for a third straight year. Poland lost to Germany in 2024 and the United States in 2025, so this feels like unfinished business.
Kawa and Zieliński were far from one-hit wonders, having also triumphed in a mixed-doubles decider in the quarterfinals against Australia. Their composure in tiebreaks has become Poland’s signature in this tournament, transforming close moments into decisive, trophy-chasing outcomes under pressure.
Switzerland’s route and a possible farewell trophy for Wawrinka
Switzerland needed a mixed-doubles decider of their own to beat Belgium, with Belinda Bencic producing a key singles win and then teaming with Jakub Paul to take the decisive match. The Swiss pair recovered from a second-set collapse to win the match tiebreak and secure their place in the final opposite Poland.
Bencic defeated Elise Mertens in singles and later partnered Paul to down Mertens and Zizou Bergs 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 in the pair’s decider. Bergs had earlier beaten Stan Wawrinka, but the team result ultimately favored Switzerland and set a stage for Sunday’s final.
There is an added storyline for Stan Wawrinka, who at 40 is starting what has been reported as his final season. A Swiss victory in the United Cup would hand Wawrinka a warm send-off and a team trophy to launch his farewell campaign in front of fans and friends.
What this all means for the players is a mix of momentum and questions. Gauff leaves Sydney with confidence in beating a top rival four times straight, while Poland gains a clear team identity built on clutch doubles. Switzerland rides the energy of Bencic and a supportive home narrative into the final.
The wider picture is simple: team events can mask singles form yet sharpen match toughness. Gauff’s win over Świątek is a headline, but the tie’s outcome reminded everyone that United Cup trophies are decided by partnerships and nerves as much as baseline brilliance.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
