Match Preview
Can Belgium channel ‘Sydney vibes’ to hold off Czechia in United Cup QF?
Teams clash in Thursday’s last-eight tie at Ken Rosewall Arena
January 07, 2026
Izhar Khan/AFP via Getty Images
Elise Mertens, Zizou Bergs and Barbora Krejcikova will be in United Cup action on Thursday in Sydney.
By ATP/WTA Staff
After upsetting World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime inside Ken Rosewall Arena on Tuesday, Zizou Bergs could only point to his environment when asked to explain Team Belgium’s impressive run so far at the 2026 United Cup.
“Sydney vibes, you know,” said Bergs in his post-match press conference. On Thursday, the No. 42 in the PIF ATP Rankings will hope to keep that positive feeling in the New South Wales capital going when he and his teammates take on Team Czechia in the quarter-finals of the mixed teams event.
Bergs takes on his fellow ATP Tour star Jakub Mensik in the opening singles rubber at 5:30 p.m. local time, before his countrywoman Elise Mertens meets Barbora Krejcikova in the WTA Tour singles. A mixed doubles clash will be played to decide the tie, should the teams split the singles matches, with the winner to face Switzerland in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Lining up in the last eight seemed an unlikely prospect for Belgium after it fell to defeat to China in their opening match at the United Cup, but a 3-0 upset of second seed Canada earned them top spot in Group B. Mertens downed teenage sensation Victoria Mboko in three sets to keep her team on track for a crucial clean sweep.
“I know we had to win this tie with a three-love,” said Mertens after that win. “I think you still focus on your own game, what you can do. You give yourself 100 per cent, which we did. The team behind me gave me a lot of energy.”
Meanwhile Czechia also qualified for the quarter-finals with a 1-1 group-stage record, after following a 3-0 triumph against Norway with a 1-2 defeat to host country Australia. The 20-year-old Mensik will hope to set the tone in his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head clash with Bergs, before another first-time meeting, somewhat remarkably, between two-time major champion Krejcikova and Mertens.
The 30-year-old veterans have played more than 1,200 singles matches combined in their career, yet have never faced each other. Like Bergs, Krejickova will also look to the team spirit behind her for inspiration as she bids to maintain her perfect record in singles matches so far this year in Sydney.
“I’m really happy that I’m part of this event, this nice competition where we have a team,” said the Czech earlier this week. “I think we have a really good atmosphere on the team, and it’s been working really well. It’s an honour to be here and to experience this.”
