United Cup final: Poland to face United States in final
After a dramatic semi-final finish in Sydney, Poland will face the United States in the Mixed Team Federation Cup final on Sunday.
Iga Swiatek defeated Elena Rybakina in straight sets to seal victory over Kazakhstan, while the United States defeated the Czech Republic 2-0.
Coco Gauff beat Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-4 in the women’s singles before Czech Tomas Machak beat Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7-4) 5-6 Retired from the race.
“He said he’d had cramps for a couple games — and I hadn’t noticed,” Fritz said. Fritz broke serve after facing two match points, and while serving in the second set, Machak conceded a ball close to the net.
“He moves really well, but I guess he’s going through it and fighting.
“It’s really humid here. That’s one possibility I’m thinking about – if I can win that set and take it to the third set, I think he might start cramping later on. It’s a tough match in conditions , this is a physical game.”
In the earlier semi-finals, world No. 2 Swiatek defeated No. 6 Rybakina 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to help Poland win an undisputed 2-0 leading advantage.
Earlier, Hubert Hulkac helped Poland take the lead with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Alexander Shevchenko in the men’s singles match.
“I’m very proud of this win – it’s perfect preparation for the Australian Open,” Swiatek said of the year’s first major, which begins on January 12 in Melbourne.
Swiatek has never reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, although she won the U.S. Open on the same hard courts and her other four Grand Slam titles came at Roland Garros of.
The 23-year-old Polish player, whose right thigh was strapped, took the lead to a first-set tiebreaker after Rybakina saved two set points.
