01/11/26 08:22:00
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01/11 08:21 CST Poland overcomes ?wi?tek defeat to Bencic and rallies to beat
Switzerland in United Cup final
Poland overcomes ?wi?tek defeat to Bencic and rallies to beat Switzerland in
United Cup final
SYDNEY (AP) --- Poland bounced back from two consecutive runner-up finishes to
win the United Cup after Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa beat Jakub Paul and
Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-3 in the deciding mixed doubles match to complete a 2-1
comeback victory over Switzerland on Sunday.
Earlier, Poland's Hubert Hurkacz beat Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to even the
final after Belinda Bencic rallied from a set down to stun No. 2-ranked Iga
?wi?tek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, giving Switzerland a surprise lead.
Hurkacz was playing in a tournament for the first time in seven months after
knee surgery sidelined the former No. 6-ranked player. He won four of his five
singles matches, including victories over Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz.
Those triumphs will help ease the pain of defeats in the final over the past
two years with a loss to Zverev in 2024 after the Polish player lost two
championship points and another last year to Fritz in a tiebreaker.
"Finally, we made it --- third time lucky," said ?wi?tek at the trophy
presentation. "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."
Bencic finally beat ?wi?tek
Bencic, who had won all four of her singles and four mixed doubles matches this
week, came into her match against ?wi?tek having lost her last five matches
against the former No. 1-ranked player.
It looked as if that trend was going to continue as ?wi?tek started strongly
and claimed the opening set 6-3 at Ken Rosewall Arena.
But the No.11-ranked Bencic shifted the momentum by winning nine consecutive
points to open the second, evening the match in a swift 33-minute set.
The decisive third set hinged on a crucial break at 2-1, where Bencic
capitalized on a powerful forehand to seize control. While Swiatek fought to
save two match points with consecutive aces, her effort was hampered by an
uncharacteristic 36 unforced errors, compared to just 10 from Bencic.
Bencic sealed the win with a sublime backhand winner into the open court on her
third match point.
"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."
"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."
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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