United Cup: Swiatek Leads Poland to Exciting 2-1 Victory Over Norway

Sydney, Dec 30 (NationPress) Iga Swiatek took charge in the women's singles match and later joined forces with Jan Zielinski to clinch the decisive doubles, leading Poland to an unforgettable 2-1 victory over Norway during a Group B showdown of the United Cup here on Monday. Following singles victories by Swiatek and Casper Ruud in front of the enthusiastic Sydney crowd, the duo of Swiatek and Zielinski overcame Ulrikke Eikeri and Ruud with a score of 6-3, 0-6, 10-8 to secure the tie for their nation.

"It's still the old year, so I'm happy to finish it like that," Swiatek remarked. "I'm really happy that I could play with Jan and showcase our skills. It was quite tight, but I’m pleased that we elevated our game at the end to achieve victory for Poland," she stated as quoted by the official United Cup website.

Swiatek burst onto the scene, dominating Malene Helgo with a score of 6-1, 6-0 in the women's singles, granting Poland an early advantage. However, Ruud kept Norway's hopes alive by defeating Hubert Hurkacz with a score of 7-5, 6-3, setting the stage for a deciding mixed doubles match.

Chants of "Ruuuuuuud!" resonated through the Sydney evening, competing with shouts of 'Poland! Poland!' As the match reached its climax, fans were on the edge of their seats. Norway held a lead in the Match Tie-break at 8/6, and Ruud had two serves at 8/7, but he couldn't capitalize.

"Even though the second set was 0-6, we recognized it was very close. It came down to single points, decisive moments, and we faced 0/30 a few times. We understood the momentum could shift at any moment," Zielinski commented post-match. "They had their advantage at some point, serving at 8/7, so we were not in an ideal position. Yet, we remained resilient, showcased solid returns, and played our best tennis when it mattered, so I’m delighted with the outcome."

As a result, Norway has been eliminated from the United Cup. The winner of the upcoming match between Poland and Czechia on Wednesday will secure Group B and proceed to the quarterfinals of this mixed-team competition.

The weight of expectation was on Ruud in his singles match against Hubert Hurkacz, but he delivered an exceptional performance at the Ken Rosewall Arena in just over an hour and 20 minutes, keeping Norway's hopes alive.

"I think it was almost an error-less match... Not many unforced errors, maybe just one or two in the final game," Ruud commented. "I’m very pleased with my performance. It was solid with a sound game plan that I executed well."

"Of course, you always step onto the court with a game plan, but execution is key. It’s not guaranteed that you will accomplish everything you intend to do. I’m glad I performed well tonight, knowing I had to against Hubi, who is a formidable player," Ruud stated on the official website.

Although not as dominant as Swiatek's 6-1, 6-0 victory against Helgo to commence the tie, Ruud's effort was nonetheless commendable.

Hurkacz's serve is known to be one of the most challenging to break on the ATP Tour, yet Ruud managed to do so twice, compelling a deciding mixed doubles match.

World No. 2 Swiatek set a strong precedent in her season opener with her victory over No. 404 Helgo. "I’m certainly happy with my performance," Swiatek expressed. "Playing for your country can be challenging, as the pressure can be greater. I’m genuinely excited, just like every year. I feel I can draw immense energy from the crowd and the fans. As evident, we filled half the stadium with Polish supporters."

At 23, Swiatek led the WTA Tour in match wins (59) and titles (5) during the 2024 season, and she displayed her sharpness in her season debut. With her new coach Wim Fissette present in the Team Zone, Swiatek overwhelmed Helgo from the baseline to achieve her first win of the season. She won the initial nine points of the match and dominated the 24-minute opening set with eight forehand winners, four backhand winners, and merely two unforced errors. She restricted Helgo to just two winners from the ground.

Helgo, 25, has become a reliable competitor for Norway at the United Cup, having participated in all three editions. Outside of this annual event, she has yet to compete at the tour level, reaching a career-high rank of No. 317 in the WTA Rankings and securing nine titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour. Swiatek maintained her momentum through a decisive second set. After enduring a lengthy 10-minute game to break Helgo, converting her seventh break point for a 3-0 advantage, Swiatek sped to the finish line, sealing a 62-minute victory.