SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 11, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
It seemed only fitting that this year’s United Cup final would be decided by the mixed doubles rubber, a battle between two unbeaten duos representing surprising finalist Switzerland and Poland, which had finished runner-up in each of the past two United Cup finals in Sydney.
Inside Ken Rosewall Arena, as the hour neared midnight, Poland showed that nothing was impossible. After all, great moments are often born from great opportunity – and Poland seized its opportunity.
Throughout the 10-day United Cup tournament, mixed doubles pair Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa had been the unsung heroes of the Polish team. They exuded confidence every time they stepped foot onto the court. Against previously undefeated Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul of Switzerland, they came up big and won the most important points.
By the end of the night, Zielinski and Kawa triumphed in the mixed doubles decider, 6-4, 6-3, in 75 minutes – and Poland finally won the United Cup trophy it has coveted. It was third time lucky for the central European country, and it was the third straight tie that Zielinski and Kawa had won a decider for Team Poland.
Incredible scenes in KRA
Poland are the 2026 United Cup Champions pic.twitter.com/ampW4dTcNt
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
Zielinski and Kawa were all smiles after they secured championship point. Their teammates, including Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz as well as team captain Mateusz Terczynski, rose from their seats on the Team Poland bench and raised their arms in unison to celebrate the moment. They were smiling, too.
With the championship tie knotted up at 1-all following a pair of dramatic singles rubbers, Zielinski and Kawa came out firing on all cylinders. They broke Bencic and Paul in the fifth game that proved to be a catalyst in winning the opening set. Then, Zielinski and Kawa broke their Swiss opponents in the opening game of the second set and never looked back.
“I think it always pays off when you’re brave on the important points, especially in doubles,” Kawa said during Poland’s post-match champion’s news conference.
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It was the only setback of the entire tournament for Bencic, who finished undefeated (5-0) in singles and 4-1 in mixed doubles paired with Paul.
“Finally, we made it, third time lucky,” Swiatek said during the on-court trophy ceremony. “I really felt it was a team effort this year. Hubi, what a comeback after so many months. You played amazing. You inspired us all with determination. I feel you improved every part of our game. Our doubles team, wow! You just beat everyone. It was amazing.”
In accepting runner-up honors, Bencic, who also received the United Cup most valuable player award, said: “This moment is so bittersweet. We can be so proud of ourselves and we really deserve to celebrate this. It was truly one of the best weeks of my life.”
The championship tie began as the World No. 11 Bencic rallied to upset World No. 2 Swiatek, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, in two hours and 11 minutes, which gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead. The victory improved her singles win-loss record to 5-0 in the United Cup. Bencic broke Swiatek’s serve six times in 12 tries and won 63 percent (19 of 30) of her second-serve return points. She won 12 of the final 15 games of the rubber and outpointed her opponent 92-67. It was the second victory over Swiatek for Bencic in seven career meetings and broke a five match losing streak against the former No. 1-ranked player.
What a way to win it
Belinda Bencic gives Team Switzerland the first point of the Final ☝️ pic.twitter.com/6sNIWqlE0Q
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
During her on-court interview afterward, Bencic, 28, said was “always a challenge” to face Swiatek “and every time I play her, I look for ways to improve and make her life a bit more difficult. I think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.”
Despite falling behind 3-0 to start the rubber, Bencic never felt out of it. Later, she won the first nine points of the second set and saved a couple of crucial break points.
“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do?’ I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”
Next, Hurkacz defeated 40-year-old Swiss playing captain Stan Wawrinka, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in one hour and 54 minutes to draw Poland level 1-1 and force the decider in mixed doubles. The 28-year-old former World No. 6 Hurkacz fired 18 aces – including three in the final game of the rubber – and saved eight of nine break points. He outpointed the three-time major champion 88-82. It was the fourth three-set match for Wawrinka, who finished the United Cup with a 1-4 win-loss record.
Trust Hubi to seal it with an ace pic.twitter.com/XKWRUwwY2x
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
“Stan was [the] better player in the second set and I knew I was catching him towards the end,” Hurkacz said afterward during his on-court interview. “I was finding a better game and I knew I can raise my serve game and that gave me confidence. Also, from the baseline, I felt like I would get some chances and there would be some opportunities for me.”
During his team’s post-tie news conference, Wawrinka said his reliance on power from the baseline was not enough to beat Hurkacz. “[It] was not enough today. He’s a great player. He’s tough to beat. Never easy,” he said.
Finally, the tie was on the racquets of Zielinski, 29, and Kawa, 33, who powered Poland over the top in the mixed doubles rubber. They won by combining power with finesse against the previously unbeaten Bencic and Paul, and outscored the Swiss pair 57-49. The Polish duo finished the United Cup tournament with an unblemished 5-0 mark, while Bencic and Paul ended 4-1.
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“I was proud to represent Poland, as always. I’ve always said it. It was about playing for the team, playing for the country, and lifting the trophy together that we felt like it was a long time coming for us,” Zielinski said during Poland’s post-tie champion’s news conference.
In an emotional championship tie that was filled with passion, pride and intensity, it was a deserving victory for Poland. After back-to-back years of heartbreak, first against Germany in 2024 and the United States last year, it was finally Team Poland’s time to shine. Together, they raised the United Cup trophy proudly.
“We’re really happy. It’s been our third final,” Terczynski said. “It really tastes really sweet, especially with such a nice team here, everyone sticking together, supporting each other no matter what. It was a really team effort.”
What a moment
Team Poland are crowned 2026 United Cup Champions pic.twitter.com/kOHzkZ5kNT
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
By the numbers
Team Poland’s road to the United Cup championship including a pair of 3-0 wins over Germany and the Netherlands during Group f play. Then, Poland defeated Australia 2-1 in the quarterfinal round and the United States 2-1 in the semifinals. Poland’s victory over Switzerland was their second one in United Cup history following a 3-2 victory in the group stage of the 2023 United Cup.
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“Quotable …”
“He’s definitely an inspiration. I was growing up watching him play, compete and win so much. Obviously his game style is really powerful. The shots that he can pull off sometimes, you can really admire them even when you are on the other side of the net.
“It’s a bit annoying sometimes when they come up with [those shots]. Good times for him, bad times for me, but it’s a pleasure to compete against him.”
– Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, during his on-court interview Sunday after defeating three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, who will retire at the end of the 2026 season.
All for the fans from Stan… pic.twitter.com/xm26re7UX1
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
