United Cup
Poland erases United Cup heartbreak with first title in Sydney
Team finds redemption after runner-up finishes the past two years
January 11, 2026
Andrew Eichenholz/ATP Tour
Team Poland celebrates its first United Cup triumph.
By ATP/WTA Staff
Hubert Hurkacz capped an emotional injury comeback and erased two years of United Cup final heartbreak when he spearheaded Poland’s tight championship victory over Switzerland at the mixed teams event in Sydney Sunday night.
Playing his first tournament in seventh months following knee surgery, the former World No. 6 needed a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Stan Wawrinka to keep his team alive after Iga Swiatek’s earlier 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 loss to Belinda Bencic, who finished the tournament with a 5-0 singles record.
With the title on the line, Jan Zielinski was again large and in charge as he partnered Katarzyna Kawa to their fifth mixed doubles win, 6-4, 6-3, over the previously undefeated Jakub Paul and Bencic, who was trying to finish the tournament with a perfect 10-0 record in match play. Bencic was named United Cup Finals Most Valuable Player.
It was an emotional night for 40-year-old Swiss captain Wawrinka, who was hoping to begin his farewell season with an unexpected United Cup title. A courageous Wawrinka played four three-set matches throughout the event but ultimately walked away with just one victory in his five singles appearances.
“I’m kind of speechless. It’s really incredible,” Hurkcaz said. “Obviously personally, but also a massive day for Poland, for Polish tennis. We showed how strong we are as a Polish country in tennis. To win that trophy, it tastes incredible. After we came very close two times.
“Just so grateful to the whole team, everyone supporting each other, just being together and enjoying the competition.”
“Finally, we made it, third time lucky,” Swiatek said during the trophy ceremony. “I really felt it was a team effort this year. Hubi, what a comeback after so many months. You played amazing. You inspired us all with determination. I feel you improved every part of our game. Our doubles team, wow! You just beat everyone. It was amazing.”
“This moment is so bittersweet,” Bencic said. “We can be so proud of ourselves and we really deserve to celebrate this. It was truly one of the best weeks of my life.”
Hurkacz dropped 18 aces on Wawrinka and saved eight of the nine break points he faced, highlighting the lone chink in the 40-year-old’s armour this week. Although he claimed a critical break en route to winning the second set, the three-time Grand Slam champion converted just two of 23 break point opportunities across his five singles matches.
Hurkacz won four of his five singles matches this week – including two Top 10 victories over Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz – in his first appearance since June last year.
The 28-year-old found redemption after two heartbreaking near misses in the past two United Cup finals. In 2024 he held two championship points before falling to Zverev. Last year Fritz denied him in a third-set tie-break.
“He’s definitely an inspiration. I was growing up watching him play, compete and win so much,” Hurkacz said after beating Wawrinka. “Obviously his game style is really powerful. The shots that he can pull off sometimes, you can really admire them even when you are on the other side of the net.
“It’s a bit annoying sometimes when they come up with [those shots]. Good times for him, bad times for me, but it’s a pleasure to compete against him.”
In the first match of the day Bencic’s continued her unbeaten run with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 comeback win over Swiatek.
“It’s always a challenge playing against her and every time I play her, I look for ways to improve and make her life a bit more difficult,” Bencic said on court. “I think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.”
Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games, earning her second victory over the World No. 2. The first set seemed the tie’s first match was going to belong to Swiatek, but the pendulum quickly shifted the momentum into Bencic’s favor.
Swiatek started strong early, holding serve in the opening game with four straight points followed by the match’s first break and another hold. With Swiatek up 3-0, Bencic settled into the match, winning two consecutive games of her own, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after a backhand winner on the third break point.
The World No. 2 eventually closed out the set, winning three of the next four games, including two breaks of Bencic’s serve. Winning the set 6-3, Swiatek hit a crosscourt backhand winner that the Swiss could not reach.
The second set, however, would feature Bencic domination. Bencic started the second set winning nine consecutive points, and in the third game, she saved two break points. The following game, she’d earn the crucial break on the third chance and finished the set in 33 minutes.
“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do.’ I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”
After three consecutive games with service holds to begin the third, Bencic notched the turning point. With a powerful forehand to set up break point, she took advantage of the crucial point, returning Swiatek’s serve with a convincing backhand winner. Swiatek fought to the last point, holding two games of serve and saving two match points with a pair of aces. But as Swiatek — who had an uncharacteristic 36 unforced errors her opponent’s 10 — trailed 5-3, Bencic earned triple match point, and her backhand winner into the open court sealed the deal.
