Swiatek ‘excited’ to be representing Poland at United Cup
Iga Siwatek and Hubert Hurkacz combined to help Poland ease to a 3-0 victory over Brazil in Pool A of the United Cup.
Poland are the favourites for the second edition of the mixed international team competition and opened their campaign in style.
Matches feature two singles and one mixed doubles tie and Swiatek, the world No. 1, cruised past Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets to begin her season before Hurkacz came through a decider to beat Thiago Seyboth Wild.
The pair then made it a clean sweep in the doubles to cap off a win which means Poland and Spain, the other team in Pool A, will battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals.
“Iga is incredible,” Hurkacz said afterwards. “Watching her play from close by, the energy she brings and the positivity and how she can hit the ball is really impressive.
“It’s so much fun to be able to share the court with her and play for Poland.”
In what was a repeat of last year’s French Open semi-final, Swiatek was dominant from the outset against Haddad Maia.
The Brazilian held serve at the start of the match before Swiatek reeled off six of the next seven games to take the early advantage.
The second set was a tighter affair but Swiatek displayed all her battling qualities to withstand everything that was thrown at her.
Swiatek saved two break points at 2-1 clear before giving up her serve at 4-1 as Haddad Maia started to find some success, but the Pole snuffed out any hopes of a Brazilian comeback by winning eight of the next 10 points to complete a 6-2 6-2 victory.
Up next, Hurkacz made much harder work of his encounter with Seyboth Wild. The Brazilian world No. 79 threatened to pull off an upset when he took the first set in a tie-break before Hurkacz hit back.
It took well over two hours but the world No. 9 eventually prevailed 6-7(4) 6-2 6-3 to wrap up the overall win for Poland with a match to spare.
Hurkacz and Swiatek combined in the mixed doubles to put the gloss on a dominant performance with a 6-4 6-3 win over Haddad Maia and Marcelo Melo in an hour and 13 minutes.
Elsewhere, China beat Czech Republich 3-0 in Group E, while Netherlands upset Norway with a 2-1 win in Group D.
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