Third time’s a charm: Poland finally win United Cup

Poland are finally United Cup champions after winning the mixed doubles decider to claim a 2-1 victory against Switzerland in Sydney on Sunday night.

After settling for runners-up in 2024 and 2025, Poland lifted the trophy on Sunday night after doubles specialists Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski continued their undefeated run to beat Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 in a thrilling final at Ken Rosewall Arena.

Poland were down 0-1 after the first match of the night, when Belinda Bencic caused a shock upset over world no.2 Iga Swiatek.

Bencic came from a set down to defeat the six-time grand slam singles champion 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 – her first victory over Swiatek since 2021.

The world no. 2 was in a state of complete despair by the end of the match, tossing her racquet across the court and bursting into tears following her second straight defeat at the event.

Swiatek had endured a straight-sets loss to world No.4 Coco Gauff on Saturday night.

Swiatek was also seen crying at the first changeover during her victory over Australian Maya Joint on Friday night.

It remains unclear what was wrong with Swiatek, but her fitness will unquestionably be one of the major talking points in the countdown to the season’s first major in Melbourne.

Despite the best efforts of a 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz was able to level the tie with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory in the men’s singles to draw it 1-1 and send the final into a mixed doubles decider.

Wawrinka, who is on his victory lap before retiring at the end of 2026, was electric despite the loss and worked the Sydney crowd as he pushed Hurkacz to three sets.

His success at this year’s United Cup and competitiveness on Sunday night is vindication for Australian Open organisers who this week awarded him a wild card to the grand slam he won back in 2014.

But Kawa and Zielinski were clinical in the mixed doubles tie, and an immediate break to start the second set proved decisive, setting the tone for the rest of the match as the duo charged towards victory for Poland.

Thousands of Polish fans – many of whom had endured the 40-degree heat a day earlier to watch their nation win its semi-final – were on their feet as Zielinksi sealed victory for Poland with a forehand straight into Bencic on championship point.

With AAP

Sabalenka crowned back-to-back champion in Brisbane

Aryna Sabalenka’s charge to reclaim the Australian Open title is well under way, with the women’s world No.1 winning the Brisbane International final in straight sets on Sunday night.

Sabalenka defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-3 to claim back-to-back titles in Brisbane in a clinical performance that bodes well as she attempts to win her fifth grand slam singles title in Melbourne from next week.

Sabalenka was straight down to business as she broke Kostyuk in the Ukrainian’s first service game to go 3-0 up in the opening set after just 12 minutes.

Kostyuk was able to wrangle the break back to make it 3-3 after a shaky start that saw her serve come under pressure, but Sabalenka snagged a late break to take the first set 6-4 in 39 minutes.

Kostyuk’s campaign in Brisbane had been phenomenal to that point, with the world No.26 defeating three top 10 players – Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova – on her way to the final.

But when the second set started much like the first, as Sabalenka surged to a 3-0 lead and took advantage of Kotyuk’s weaker second serve, it was a matter of when, not if, Sabalenka would secure the championship.

It took just 1 hour and 18 minutes for Sabalenka to wrap up the match, as Kostyuk joined Karolina Muchova, Madison Keys and Sorana Cirstea on the list of players Sabalenka tossed aside on her way to victory.

Kostyuk ignored Sabalenka – a Belarusian player – in her runners-up speech, instead taking the time to thank her own team, tournament organisers and volunteers before focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“I want to say a few words about Ukraine,” she said.

“I play every day with a pain in my heart and there is thousands of people who are without light and warm water right now, it’s minus 20 degrees outside, so it’s very, very painful to live this reality every day.

“It’s very hot here in Brisbane, so it’s difficult to imagine this, but my sister is sleeping under three blankets because of how cold it is at home, so I was incredibly moved and happy to see so many Ukrainian fans and flags this week too.”

Sabalenka began her victory speech by acknowledging her opponent.

“First of all, I want to start with congratulating Marta and her team on an incredible start to the season,” she said.

“I wish you all the best this season – it seems like it’s going to be great tennis and I hope that we’re going to meet each other many more times in the finals to show great tennis.”

Sabalenka is seeking redemption in Melbourne after losing to Madison Keys in last year’s final, and will head to the first grand slam of the year undefeated.

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