SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 10, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Both Switzerland and Poland took care of their respective United Cup semifinal opponents – upstart Belgium for Switzerland and defending champion United States for Poland – in similar fashion at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. Each of the Saturday semifinals were decided by the outcome of the mixed doubles rubber.
During the afternoon session, Switzerland advanced 2-1 over Belgium after Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul remained undefeated in mixed doubles. Bencic and Paul held off Belgians Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs in the match tie-break. In the other tie Saturday evening, Polish pair Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski fought past Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison, handing the American duo their first loss.
On Sunday evening, Switzerland and Poland, which lost last year’s title to the United States, will face off in the United Cup final – and a first-time United Cup champion will be crowned.
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Bencic boosts Switzerland into United Cup final
After surviving a third-set tie-break in the searing Sydney heat, where temperatures exceeded 100º Fahrenheit, Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul remained unbeaten (4-0) in mixed doubles and won their third match tie-break of the United Cup, which lifted Switzerland into the final for the first time with their 2-1 victory over Belgium.
Bencic and Paul held off Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs, 6-3, 0-6, 10-5, in one hour and 17 minutes after winning just 12 points in the second set and being outpointed 50-49 over the course of the entire rubber.
THAT WINNING MOMENT
Team Switzerland punch their ticket to the United Cup final for the first time ️ pic.twitter.com/wAycL9lD22
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026
Bencic, 28 and the mother of a 21-month-old daughter, has gone undefeated in singles (4-0) and with Paul has become a formidable mixed doubles team.
“Very proud of the team,” 40-year-old Swiss team captain Stan Wawrinka said during his team’s post-tie news conference. “Again, MVP, Kubie. Well done.
“Belinda, showed us again why she’s a great champion. It was a tough one this morning, but she went through it.
“As a captain, it’s amazing to watch and try to help in any way I can. Super proud with the energy we have in this team. We have so much fun since the day one. It’s amazing to be in the final, mainly because of Belinda.”
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Before Saturday, Bencic and Mertens had only met once, back at the 2021 Australian Open, won by Mertens, 6-2, 6-1. Fast forward five years and the World No. 11 from Flawil maintained her unblemished start to the 2026 season at the United Cup after she outlasted the World No. 19 Mertens, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0), which gave the Swiss a 1-0 lead.
Although it was the first set that Bencic had dropped in singles, following straight-set wins over Leolia Jeanjean of France, World No. 8 Jasmine Paolini of Italy and Solana Sierra of Argentina, she nearly won in straight sets. Needing just two games from 4-all in the second set, Mertens broke Bencic and held serve to send it to a decider. In the third set, Mertens came from 3-1 down and pushed matters to a tie-break.
Belinda’s world and we’re living in it
Bencic remains unbeaten at the United Cup as she inches Team Switzerland closer to a spot in the final after an absolute battle pic.twitter.com/p41EclXnsp
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026
However, Bencic won the last nine points of the match – taking advantage of changing to a freshly-strung racquet in the process – and wrapped up the three set match in two hours and 37 minutes to set the stage for player captain Wawrinka and Bergs to do battle.
“It feels like 170 kilos fell of my shoulders – I was so stressed; I really waned to do well, and today I felt so much pressure to not let my team down,” Bencic said during her on-court interview.
Bencic was asked about the last-moment racquet change afterward. She said: “My brain turned off and let my instincts take over.
“I think it was just a feeling, and I played with my back against the wall. I was really focused on myself, on breathing, and I’m super happy that I stayed tough in the important moments.”
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Next, the 42nd-ranked Bergs sent the semifinal tie to a deciding mixed doubles rubber after pulling through a tough and grueling 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 win over Wawrinka, ranked 156th in two hours and 30 minutes. The Belgian No. 1 outpointed the three-time major champion, who on Friday received a wild card into the upcoming Australian Open, Wawrinka 109-95. Bergs saved both break points he faced and converted two of six break-point opportunities.
“Stan played really well and I really had to battle it out today,” Bergs said afterward. “It was hard to control the ball on return and he served very good; it was very hard for me. To get rhythm is very tough. I’m just happy I found the solution.”
Tied at 1-all, the Switzerland-Belgium tie came down to the mixed doubles rubber and Bencic and Paul came up big when it mattered the most.
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After securing the tie with the mixed doubles triumph, Paul said on-court afterward: “It’s easy to find the energy with this team. It’s great to play with Belinda. Hats off to her to play for almost three hours and then come out for the doubles. And great job by Stan to keep Zizou as long as possible on the court.”
Bencic praised Wawrinka and the rest of the Swiss team when they sat for their post-tie news conference. “The team spirit is amazing and it starts with the captain,” she said. “He’s supporting all throughout my match and then he goes out to play his own match and then he’s back to support the doubles. It starts with him but then with all the energy from our bench it gives us such a spirit to win.”
Kawa and Zielinski come up big for Poland
Poland gained revenge on the United States by knocking off the defending United Cup champions 2-1 to reach its third straight final. The Polish lost last year’s final 2-0 to the U.S. and fell to Germany 2-1 in the 2024 final.
INCREDIBLE
Team Poland make it to ANOTHER United Cup Final pic.twitter.com/kZ2RXoJ6fj
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026
Like in the past, Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek carried the Polish hopes in singles. The 83rd-ranked Hurkacz, playing in his first tournament since last June after recovering from an injury to his right knee, struck 16 aces, won 85 percent of his first-serve points and saved both break points he faced during his 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) win over World No. 9 Taylor Fritz during his one-hour, 34-minute tussle. It gave Poland a 1-0 lead to build upon. Hurkacz has now accumulated 77 aces in this year’s United Cup.
“Obviously playing Taylor is such a big challenge and it’s a very difficult match, especially this court, it’s quite fast. He’s serving very powerfull.” Hurkacz said during his on-court interview. “Also, his forehand is really big, so if you leave anything short, he’s going to come after it.
“I felt like I played actually quite solid myself. I tried to be more aggressive. Actually during my time off I was watching some of my past matches and I was listening to your commentary. It’s a good help for players, as well.”
Revenge is a dish best served Pole-d
Hurkacz avenges his 2025 #UnitedCup final loss to Fritz 7-6 7-6 to hand Poland the advantage! pic.twitter.com/feHOEwbsnZ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 10, 2026
With a chance to clinch the tie in singles, Swiatek and Gauff met for the 16th time. Although the World No. 2 from Poland brought an 11-4 career head-to-head record into the rubber, Gauff had won their last three meetings to close the gap.
After their one-hour, 41-minute battle, won by the World No. 4 Gauff, 6-4, 6-2, on her fourth match point opportunity, the U.S. found itself tied 1-1. Gauff converted five of 11 break points and outpointed Swiatek 71-61.
Off to a decider @cocogauff wins a highly entertaining battle against @iga_swiatek 6-4 6-2 to level the #UnitedCup semi-final between the USA and Poland pic.twitter.com/dpAloaB7jW
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 10, 2026
“I didn’t the let the opportunities that I had on the first two times I had match points get away from me,” said Gauff, who would have about 30 minutes to cool off before returning to Ken Rosewall Arena for the mixed doubles finale. “She played well. Maybe there was one error on the backhand, but after that, she played the better tennis, but I knew that how I was playing the whole match I would get it done.”
Next, it was on to the decider in mixed doubles featuring Gauff and Christian Harrison, who were undefeated in their first three United Cup rubbers, go up against the undefeated Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski. Both sets were decided by tiebreakers and it was the Polish duo who prevailed, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), in one hour and 45 minutes.
Kawa and Zielinski saved four of seven break points and broke their opponents three times in eight tries. Points were even at 79.
Incredible scenes
It’s now three finals in a row for Team Poland pic.twitter.com/zH3gaMtwha
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026
“First of all hats off to Hubert who is playing incredible tennis in his first tournament in seven months and inspiring us to play like we did today,” Zielinski said in his on-court interview alongside Kawa. “He’s an inspiration to all of us.
“Tomorrow there will be a lot of emotions and hopefully we can show our best tennis.”
During Poland’s team’s post-match news conference, Hurkacz added: “Definitely special as a team. We’re in the finals again. It was really long match, so many emotions watching that, the mixed doubles.
“Yeah, it was really amazing what they did at the end, how they played and competed. They break fast twice when they served for the [set]. There were some really incredible rallies. …
“Lots of positive emotions. So happy we’re in the finals again. Also pleased with my performance on the singles court, especially after quite a difficult match the day before with Alex. So, definitely looking forward to tomorrow.”
A message from your Finalists pic.twitter.com/AzXPYLBove
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 10, 2026
Sunday’s United Cup order of play
By the numbers
In 2025, Belinda Bencic went 9-11 against Top-20 players. She and Elise Mertens were scheduled to meet in the round of 32 at Wuhan last season, however the Belgian withdrew prior to the match due to a back injury.
“Quotable …”
“It’s hard to put it into words. I mean, always said playing for your country, playing for your team, it’s something special. It’s bigger than just playing tournaments, winning all by yourself.
“Ninety-nine percent of the season is alone, we play for ourselves. For me these weeks where we play Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup for the women, this United Cup event, is a special week for me. I always cherish all the moments.
“Being able to help the team, put that one little brick from my side, help the team reach the finals, is an incredible feeling.
“Third time in a row, hopefully third time’s a charm.”
– Jan Zielinski of Poland, during his team’s post-tie news conference early Sunday morning, after he and Katarzyna Kawa won the decisive point during their 2-1 victory over the United States.
