Swiatek & Hurkacz team up to secure Poland's spot in Final Four at United Cup
ATP & WTA
Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz carried their country to the Final Four at the 2023 United Cup, beating Italy in a dramatic tie.
The United States already secured their spot in the Final Four, and now Poland joined them. The Polish team isn't the most balanced one in the competition, but they still managed to beat a very solid Italy.
Both teams completed their round-robin matches in Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena, and that's obviously where the City Final took place as well. In the group stage, neither had any problems against their opponents.
Italy first beat Brazil 3-2, and then they also defeated Norway 5-0 to top Group E. Poland, on the other hand, beat Kazakhstan 4-1, and then Switzerland 3-2 to win Group B.
In the city final, the Italian team started better, much better. The first Polish player nominated for the men's singles, Daniel Michalski, was never ranked inside of the Top 200, and Lorenzo Musetti was just a too-strong opponent for him. Musetti won the match 6-1, 6-1, to give Italy a 1-0 lead.
Iga Swiatek was then able to level the score in the first women's singles match. The WTA World No. 1 player easily beat Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-4, leveling the score of the tie at 1-1.
Matteo Berrettini and Hubert Hurkacz then played probably the most exciting match of the tie. The Italian won the first set 6-4, before Hurkacz won the second 6-3. Eventually, Berrettini came out victorious, winning the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, with Italy only one point away from the win.
Unfortunately for them, that point never came. Poland was just incredibly good in the last two matches, winning them both with the same scoreline, 6-1, 6-2.
First, Magda Linette bested Lucia Bronzetti, and then Swiatek and Hurkacz teamed up in the mixed doubles to beat Camilla Rosatello and Musetti, securing the Final Four appearance for Poland.
