Can Belgium channel ‘Sydney vibes’ to hold off the Czech Republic in the United Cup QF? | ATP tour | Tennis

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Can Belgium channel ‘Sydney vibes’ to hold off the Czech Republic in the United Cup QF?

Teams clash in the last eight match at Ken Rosewall Arena on Thursday
January 7, 2026

After upsetting world number 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Ken Rosewall Arena on Tuesday, Zizou Bergs could only point to his surroundings when asked to explain Team Belgium’s impressive performance so far at the 2026 United Cup.

“Sydney vibes, you know,” Bergs said at his post-match press conference. On Thursday, the PIF ATP rankings number 42 will hope to keep that positive feeling going in the New South Wales capital when he and his teammates take on Team Czech Republic in the quarter-finals of the mixed teams event.

Bergs will take on fellow ATP Tour star Jakub Mensik in the opening singles match at 5.30pm local time, before compatriot Elise Mertens meets Barbora Krejcikova in the WTA Tour singles match. A mixed doubles match will be played to decide the tie should the teams split the singles matches, with the winner facing Switzerland in the semi-finals on Saturday.

A place in the last eight looked an unlikely prospect for Belgium after defeat to China in their opening United Cup match, but a 3-0 defeat to second seeds Canada gave them top spot in Group B. Mertens defeated teenage sensation Victoria Mboko in three sets to keep her team on course for a crucial clean sweep.

“I know we had to win this tie with a three-way tie,” Mertens said after that victory. “I think you still concentrate on your own game, on what you can do. You give yourself 100 percent, and we did that. The team behind me gave me a lot of energy.”

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic also qualified for the quarter-finals with a 1-1 record in the group stage, after a 3-0 win against Norway with a 1-2 defeat to hosts Australia. Mensik, 20, will be hoping to set the tone in his first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Bergs before, somewhat remarkably, taking on two-time major champion Krejcikova and Mertens for the first time.

The 30-year-old veterans have played more than 1,200 singles matches together in their careers, but have never faced each other. Like Bergs, Krejickova will also look to the team spirit behind her for inspiration as she looks to maintain her perfect record in singles matches so far this year in Sydney.

“I am very happy to be part of this event, this great competition where we have a team,” the Czech said earlier this week. “I think there is a very good atmosphere within the team and it has worked very well. It is an honor to be here and experience this.”