Swiatek Leads Poland to United Cup Semifinals with Victory Over Boulter
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Sydney, Jan 2 (NationPress) Iga Swiatek demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination as she triumphed over Great Britain's Katie Boulter with a score of 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4, ensuring Poland's advancement to the United Cup semifinals at Ken Rosewall Arena. With this victory, Poland has established an unassailable 2-0 lead against Great Britain.
Swiatek's win followed Hubert Hurkacz's straight-set victory of 7-6 (3), 7-5 over Billy Harris, thereby sealing the tie for Poland and confirming their place in the final four for the third consecutive year. Poland is now set to face Kazakhstan in pursuit of reaching their second consecutive United Cup final.
This match marked the first career encounter between Swiatek and Boulter, and it certainly met expectations. The initial set was a fierce battle from the baseline, with Swiatek initially taking control, establishing a quick 3-0 lead and showcasing her skill by saving four break points during an extended service game.
However, Boulter, ranked 24th, displayed her grit and powerful strokes to fight her way back into contention.
Her effective backhand was crucial in the first set, as she pushed the match into a tiebreak with a series of aggressive shots that disrupted Swiatek's momentum. In the tiebreak, Boulter's bold baseline play led her to secure back-to-back winners, clinching the set in 74 minutes and providing Great Britain with a flicker of hope.
After losing the first set, Swiatek swiftly recalibrated her approach for the second set. By tightening her baseline consistency and ramping up her aggression, she quickly established a double-break advantage. Swiatek's relentless accuracy overwhelmed Boulter, who only managed four winners compared to Swiatek's 17 in the earlier set. Swiatek's commanding performance culminated in a decisive 6-1 win, pushing the match into a final set.
The deciding set was filled with tension as Boulter made an early break to lead 2-1, taking advantage of a brief lapse in Swiatek's focus. Nonetheless, Swiatek called for a medical timeout off-court, returning with her upper right leg taped. Despite this challenge, she quickly regained her rhythm, winning eight consecutive points to swing the momentum back in her favor.
Both competitors rose to the occasion in the critical final games. Serving at 4-3, Boulter managed to save two break points through her resilient defensive play, prevailing in long rallies to keep her dreams alive. However, Swiatek, renowned as the best returner on the WTA circuit, turned the tide at 5-4. With an impressive display of precision and power, she broke Boulter's serve at love to conclude the match, which lasted 2 hours and 57 minutes.
As Poland moves forward to face Kazakhstan in the semifinals, the stakes remain elevated. Swiatek and Hurkacz will lead a seasoned Polish squad that has consistently proven its strength under pressure. Kazakhstan, featuring in-form players such as Elena Rybakina and Alexander Bublik, will undoubtedly present a significant challenge.
