Poland will face the USA in Sunday’s last of the mixed-team United Cup following a dramatic finish to the semi-finals in Sydney.
Iga Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina in straight units to seal her facet’s victory towards Kazakhstan whereas the US received 2-0 towards the Czech Republic.
Coco Gauff beat Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-4 within the ladies’s singles earlier than Czech participant Tomas Machac retired when main 7-6 (7-4) 5-6 towards Taylor Fritz.
“He mentioned he had been cramping for a few video games – I did not discover,” mentioned Fritz, who had damaged again after going through two match factors and was serving for the second set when Machac approached the web to concede.
“He was transferring fairly effectively, however I assume he was enjoying by it and combating it.
“It is actually humid in right here. That is one thing I used to be fascinated about as a chance – if I may win that set and take it to a 3rd, he may begin cramping in a while. It is robust situations and it was a bodily match.”
Within the earlier semi-final, world quantity two Swiatek gave Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over sixth-ranked Rybakina.
Hubert Hurkacz had earlier put Poland on their approach with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Alexander Shevchenko within the males’s singles.
“This win makes me actually proud – it’s excellent preparation for the Australian Open,” mentioned Swiatek, in reference to the yr’s first main that begins in Melbourne on 12 January.
Swiatek has by no means made it previous the semi-finals of the Australian Open, though she has received the US Open on the identical hardcourt floor, together with her different 4 Grand Slam titles approaching clay on the French Open.
The 23-year-old Pole, who performed with strapping on her proper thigh, was taken to a first-set tie-break after Rybakina saved two set factors earlier than she pulled away.
