Final preview: Hubert Hurkacz, Iga Swiatek ensure breakthrough in United Cup vs. Switzerland | ATP tour | Tennis

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Latest preview: Hurkacz, Swiatek ensure breakthrough United Cup vs. Switzerland

Poland participates in the third consecutive United Cup final (0-2)
January 10, 2026

Will it be a case of third time lucky for Team Poland when they contest the United Cup final in Sydney on Sunday?

Led by Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek, the two-time runners-up face Team Switzerland, with a new champion guaranteed. Leading the charge for Switzerland is Belinda Bencic, who performed flawlessly in both singles and mixed doubles, with captain Stan Wawrinka providing leadership and experience in what is the three-time major champion’s final season on Tour.

Proceedings at the Ken Rosewall Arena start at 5.30pm with Bencic and Swiatek, before Wawrinka takes on Hurkacz. The Pole won their only Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting, which took place at the 2023 United Cup.

A message from your Finalists 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AzXPYLBove

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026

Swiatek, the reigning Wimbledon champion, has a 5-1 lead in her head-to-head clash with Bencic, although the Swiss has been in inspired form throughout the competition in both Sydney and Perth. The 28-year-old, mother of 21-month-old daughter Bella, is unbeaten in four singles matches and is the cornerstone of her team, while Swiatek will be eager to bounce back from her semi-final defeat to Coco Gauff.

“Stan pushes me through in my singles, then he tries to push himself through in his singles, and then he pushes us over the line in the mixed,” Bencic said of playing captain Wawrinka. “I don’t know what to say. It’s just amazing.”

Wawrinka faces a difficult task against the mighty Hurkacz, especially upon return. The 40-year-old has broken serve just once in his four matches and has leaned on a more defensive game plan, yielding one win. Hurkacz, on the other hand, unleashed 77 aces on his way to the final.

“It will be a fun match against Stan,” Hurkacz said. “He showed some great tennis in this tournament. It’s obviously his last year on Tour. It’s really inspiring to see him play and compete. It’s going to be a fun challenge. Lots of positive emotions. So happy to be in the final again.”

After a seven-month injury layoff that required knee surgery, Hurkacz looked sharp in Sydney. The former No. 6 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has already secured victories over Top 10 opponents Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, who defeated him in a final-set tiebreak to secure last year’s United Cup title.

Since both teams were evenly matched, the final would depend on a mixed doubles match. Swiss Bencic and Jakub Paul are unbeaten in four matches, while Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski have an identical record.