ATP Tour
Last Preview: Hurkacz, Swiatek eye United Cup breakthrough vs. Switzerland
Poland is competing in its third consecutive United Cup closing (0-2)
January 10, 2026
TENNIS AUSTRALIA
Hubert Hurkacz leads Stan Wawrinka 1-0 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection.
By Jerome Coombe
Will it’s a case of third time fortunate for Crew Poland after they contest the United Cup closing in Sydney on Sunday?
Led by Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek, the two-time runners-up face Crew Switzerland with a brand new champion assured. Switzerland’s cost has been pushed by Belinda Bencic, who has been flawless throughout each singles and blended doubles, with enjoying captain Stan Wawrinka offering management and expertise in what’s the three-time main champion’s closing season on Tour.
Proceedings at Ken Rosewall Area start at 5:30 p.m. with Bencic assembly Swiatek, earlier than Wawrinka takes on Hurkacz. The Pole gained their lone Lexus ATP Head2Head encounter, which got here on the United Cup in 2023.
A message out of your Finalists 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AzXPYLBove
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026
Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, holds a 5-1 benefit in her head-to-head with Bencic, although the Swiss has been in impressed kind all through the competitors in each Sydney and Perth. Unbeaten in 4 singles outings, the 28-year-old — mom to 21-month-old daughter Bella — has been the cornerstone of her crew, whereas Swiatek will probably be keen to reply after her straight-sets semi-final defeat to Coco Gauff.
“Stan pushes me by means of in my singles, then he tries to push himself by means of in his singles, then he pushes us over the road within the blended,” Bencic mentioned of enjoying captain Wawrinka. “I do not know what to say. It is simply superb.”
Wawrinka faces a frightening process in opposition to the powerful-serving Hurkacz, notably on return. The 40-year-old has damaged serve simply as soon as throughout his 4 matches and has leaned on a extra defensive recreation plan, yielding a single win. Hurkacz, in contrast, has unleashed 77 aces en path to the ultimate.
“It’ll be a enjoyable match in opposition to Stan,” Hurkacz mentioned. “He is proven some superb tennis all through this match. Clearly it is his final 12 months on Tour. It is actually inspiring to look at him play, watch him compete. It’ll be a enjoyable problem. A number of optimistic feelings. So pleased we’re within the finals once more.”
After a seven-month damage layoff that required knee surgical procedure, Hurkacz has appeared sharp in Sydney. The previous No. 6 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings has already notched victories over High 10 opponents Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, who edged him in a final-set tie-break to safe final 12 months’s United Cup title.
With each groups evenly matched, the ultimate might hinge on blended doubles. Switzerland’s Bencic and Jakub Paul are unbeaten in 4 matches, whereas Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski boast an an identical report.
