SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, January 12, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
A sense of pressure that permeated throughout Poland’s run to this year’s United Cup title turned to euphoria following their 2-1 victory over Switzerland inside Ken Rosewall Arena Sunday evening. It was a feeling shared by both team captain Mateusz Terczynski as well as the players. By the end, Team Poland had enjoyed a successful 10-day journey in Sydney to start the 2026 season.
The belief in team and the team chemistry – the way each player supported one another on the court – was something special.
This is the story of Team Poland: your 2026 United Cup champions pic.twitter.com/O9H2XvHxo3
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 12, 2026
Down 1-0 after Iga Swiatek‘s three-set loss to Swiss star Belinda Bencic, Hubert Hurkacz gave a Herculean effort that leveled the tie at 1-all, after he fought past 40-year-old Swiss playing captain Stan Wawrinka, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in one hour and 54 minutes.
Then, it was up to the Polish mixed doubles team of Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa, who had been as good as a sure-thing for Poland throughout the entire United Cup. They entered the winner-take-all rubber 4-0, having knocked off Australia and the United States in decisive back-to-back matches to reach the final.
Incredible scenes in KRA
Poland are the 2026 United Cup Champions pic.twitter.com/ampW4dTcNt
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
Zielinski and Kawa proved to be Team Poland’s most valuable players, coming through to finish undefeated in the mixed team event after beating previously unbeaten Switzerland’s Bencic and Jakub Paul, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch the 2026 United Cup title for Poland.
During Poland’s post-tie champion’s news conference, there was a sense of happiness and joy – and, arguably, relief, too. Above all else, there was a feeling of team pride.
“We’re really happy. It’s been our third final. It really tastes really sweet, especially with such a nice team here, everyone sticking together, supporting each other no matter what,” Terczynski said. “It was a really team effort. I just want to thank everyone.”
What a moment
Team Poland are crowned 2026 United Cup Champions pic.twitter.com/kOHzkZ5kNT
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 11, 2026
Although Hurkacz felt speechless, he still had plenty to say. “It’s really incredible I think obviously personally but also massive day for Poland, for Polish tennis,” said Hurkacz, who at the beginning of the mixed-team event was facing tour-level competition for the first time in seven months after suffering a knee injury that required surgery and knocked him off the ATP Tour and out of the Top 20 rankings.
“I think it’s really unique and amazing we showed how strong we are as a Polish country in tennis. To win that trophy, it tastes incredible.”
It could be said that after losing the 2024 final to Germany, in which Hurkacz had two championship points to seal a 2-0 win and faltered, and last year against the United States, when the Polish ran up against Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz, this year’s victory against Switzerland tasted really sweet and helped to erase the heartbreaks of the past two finals.
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“Yeah, this just feels amazing. Just so grateful to the whole team, everyone supporting each other, just being together and enjoying the competition,” added Hurkacz, who will head off to the Australian Open next week with an improved ranking – No. 53 – after it shot up 30 places following a 4-1 run that included wins over World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, No. 25 Tallon Griekspoor, No. 9 Fritz and No. 139 Wawrinka, who was rewarded with an Australian Open wild card over the weekend as the Swiss star embarks on his final ATP Tour season.
At 33, Kawa was the oldest player on Team Poland and truly an unsung hero. She helped secure set point that gave the Polish a one-set lead in the mixed doubles rubber. “Yeah, I think it always pays off when you’re brave on the important points, especially in doubles. It was like instinct decision. I just went for it,” she explained.
“Yeah, I’m really happy that we sealed this set and we were able to get this match won.”
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When it was Zielinksi’s turn to speak, he said: “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.”
Despite losing her final two matches, against Gauff and Bencic, after winning her first three, Swiatek said everything was fine. She was just “super sore.”
“I guess first tournament of the year, it costs the body a bit differently than during the season. But I had similar experience last year also,” she said.
“I’ll just get good recovery, couple days off. Also I know these team events. I love them but they really take a lot of energy from you. I still need to figure out how to balance that maybe in the future. I get so excited on the bench, yeah, it’s almost like playing a match honestly.
“Yeah, it’s all good. I for sure physically wasn’t in the second set the best version of myself. Belinda really used it to push me. For sure, I’ll try to get that covered for Australian Open and we’ll see.”
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On Monday morning, Swiatek and the rest of Team Poland celebrated their first United Cup title at Bennelong Lawn overlooking Sydney Harbour, still feeling on a high note and a privilege to live in the moment of victory – and with the United Cup trophy to show off.
“It’s amazing, it’s been a long time coming playing such a tight final with Germany and last year with the U.S. I feel we really deserved it,” Swiatek said. “We had great performances and great spirit on the bench. I’m super impressed with the trophy and, finally, it’s ours.”
