SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 9, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
With Poland and Australia deadlocked at 1-all, Friday evening’s United Cup quarterfinal tie in the mixed-team event came down to a mixed doubles rubber decider at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney – and it would be between a pair of proper mixed doubles teams.
After a pair of contrasting – and, at times, dramatic – singles rubbers, won by Poland’s Iga Swiatek in straight sets and Alex de Minaur of Australia going the distance, it would be a matter of which country’s mixed doubles team could handle the pressure best. On this night, it was Poland, which advanced to its fourth-straight semifinal round at the United Cup.
Behind the combined efforts of Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski, who came on strong to beat Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith, 6-4, 6-0, Poland defeated Australia 2-1 to advance to Saturday’s semifinals against the United States in a rematch of last year’s United Cup final, which the Americans won 2-0.
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After dropping the first seven points, Kawa and Zielinski regrouped and stormed their way past the Australians. By the end of the 64-minute skirmish, the Polish duo had combined for four aces, hit 10 winners and outpointed their opponents 53-40. They saved all seven break points they faced from Hunter and Smith while converting four of eight break points – three of them coming in the final set.
“It was a very emotional match,” Zielinski said afterward during Poland’s post-tie news conference. “All four of us have been sitting on the bench for a good five, four hours watching around. There was a lot of emotion building up leading towards that match, a lot of responsibility and pressure.
“That was kind of my way to let it out and get myself fired up, get Katia fired up, show we’re there to fight, to show that we’re capable of winning this match, that even though it was a tough environment, we were ready to fight and face it.”
Poland book their semi-final spot in Sydney! ✅#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/4zDYnLIQmB
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 9, 2026
Polish team captain Mateusz Terczynski said the decision to go with Kawa and Zielinski instead of inserting singles players Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz into the lineup wasn’t an easy one, but it turned out to be the right decision.
“Obviously the decision itself wasn’t easy,” he said. “Jan and Katia have been playing really well. They already won two matches before that. That obviously made the decision easier.”
Terczynski described his team’s victory as “a really difficult match.” He said it was also an emotionally charged one because of all of the Polish fans on hand to support their team.
“Yeah, really proud of the team, how they stick together, of the energy everyone brought. We’re happy to be in semis,” Terczynski added.
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Earlier, World No. 2 Swiatek put Poland ahead with an easy 6-1, 6-1 win over Australia’s Maya Joint. She needed just 57 minutes to get the job done and did so by converting five of eight break points. Swiatek won all of her service games, saved the only break point she faced and outpointed Joint 53-24.
“I had a clear plan of what I wanted to do. I just focused on that,” Swiatek said during her team’s news conference. “[I] wanted to be intensive from the beginning, put pressure on Maya, and it worked.
“Every ball mattered. I didn’t want to give any free points. I also kind of felt the court a bit better than the last two matches and used of the opportunities that I had.”
First point to Poland. A great start to the night pic.twitter.com/a6PI3HpSNz
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 9, 2026
With Poland ahead 1-0, the partisan Australian crowd next willed World No. 6 de Minaur to victory over Hurkacz, who was playing in just his third match since cutting his 2025 season short due to injury. It was a tough, three-set battle won by the Sydneysider, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in two hours and 18 minutes despite Hurkacz striking 19 aces. De Minaur saved 10 of 11 break points he faced and by the end, he had outpointed his opponent 98-91.
“Nights like these … these are just the best,” de Minaur said during his on-court interview. “I love playing here. The atmosphere from the first ball to the last was amazing.
“I just had to fight him off from the first point to the last. It was a huge mental effort and we’re still alive. I’m glad I was able to bounce back after losing that second set. I had some dark thoughts in my head.”
WOW
Alex de Minaur turns it around to send this quarterfinal down to the wire. pic.twitter.com/lrIUhZIs8T
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 9, 2026
Later, Hurkacz said he tried to produce his best tennis against de Minaur. “Was not enough today. Had some opportunities that maybe with time, with more matches, I would be able to play a little bit wiser and be more committed to the game,” he said.
“Overall obviously a little bit disappointed with the result at the end, but also proud with the fight and happy that I was able to compete again and play on a high, high level. Excited to have another difficult and fun challenge tomorrow.”
Despite the setback, Hurkacz returned to the bench in support of his Polish teammates. By the end of the tie, he and Swiatek joined in the celebration with Kawa and Zielinski.
“Really proud of them, the way they played and competed in this deciding match,” Hurkacz said. “Yeah, really, really excited.”
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Looking ahead to Saturday’s semifinal against the United States, Swiatek said she would start to prepare for facing World No. 4 Coco Gauff, whom she lost to 6-4, 6-4 during last year’s final.
“For sure it’s a good match, like exciting for the fans I think. But I’ll focus on my singles. Obviously we know each other’s game pretty well with Coco,” Swiatek said.
“The key for me will be just to focus on myself, try to implement the stuff that I worked on during the pre-season and be brave with the decisions. Yeah, we’ll see.”
Hurkacz will have a chance to rebound from his loss to de Minaur when he faces World No. 9 Taylor Fritz, whom he lost to in last year’s United Cup final, in a third-set tie-break.
“Taylor, he’s such a great player. Had a really good year last year,” Hurkacz said. “Yeah, it’s going to be a fun challenge to play against him. I mean, we played in the finals last year. It was a close battle. Will try to be a bit better this year.”
As Zielinski said on court, moments after he and Kawa clinched Poland’s victory over Australia: “We handled the pressure amazingly. The whole team on the bench behind us, Iga winning her singles, Hubi giving his best … It’s a team effort.”
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Saturday’s United Cup schedule
Due to Saturday’s high temperature forecast, the day session will be brought forward to start at 10 a.m. rather than the originally-scheduled 10:30 a.m. Gates will open at 9 a.m.
By the numbers
Through his first three 2026 United Cup matches, Hubert Hurkacz has struck 61 aces – 21 against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, 21 versus Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, and 19 versus Alex de Minaur of Australia.
“Quotable …”
“I never thought of myself as, like, upcoming star or something, you know. I just try to play my best as an underdog.
“Honestly, it was pretty fun. I miss those days. I remember actually, like, playing against Ash [Barty]. I could feel how good she is when she was No. 1 and so solid, and she really, like, inspired me actually.
“Yeah, being an underdog and, yeah, being this upcoming player with this freshness that you have, I think it’s great.
“It’s a moment where you improve your game the most. So for sure she’s I feel at that point of her career, and she’s doing great. She also seems like a really intelligent and humble person, so that’s also important in my opinion.”
– World No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland, following her team’s victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday, speaking about her days as an up-and-coming player and her quarterfinal opponent, Australian No. 1 Maya Joint.
