Battling Iga Swiatek takes Poland into United Cup semis

SYDNEY – Poland returned to the semi-finals of the United Cup mixed-team tennis tournament for a third straight year, after hard-fought singles victories in Sydney set up a 3-0 win over Britain on Jan 2.

Iga Swiatek settled the tie after an almighty battle with Katie Boulter, prevailing 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4 as the 2024 runners-up booked a last-four clash with Kazakhstan in the US$10 million (S$13.7 million) tournament, ahead of the Jan 12-26 Australian Open.

“I’m just exhausted,” said Swiatek after the near three-hour marathon at Ken Rosewall Arena. “I’m happy that I won, so that I don’t need to play mixed doubles. This match was crazy, so many changes of momentum.”

The 23-year-old squandered a 4-1 lead in the opening set, which her opponent clinched in 74 minutes after an inspired comeback.

But the world No. 2 was not to be denied as she romped through the second set and shrugged off a right leg issue in the decider to outlast Boulter.

“I thought I had it under control in the first set but I got tight. I didn’t want to repeat the same mistake in the third and I took four painkillers,” Swiatek said.

“A lot hurt, but I’m happy that I won and for sure I’m going to need the day off tomorrow.

“If they give me space to lie down (in the dugout) I’ll take a nap... I think I’ll just go to the locker and die.”

Hubert Hurkacz clinched a tight opening set when Billy Harris sent a backhand long in the tiebreak and then stepped up a gear late in the second set to seal a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 victory and put his team ahead 1-0 in front of delighted fans.

“Definitely super pleased with myself,” he said, after his first singles win of the tournament.

“Today was a really difficult battle with Billy... This win is so crucial to get more confidence and get another match in.”

Elsewhere in Australia, Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka were in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open as both powered into the Brisbane International quarter-finals.

On a day when rising stars Mirra Andreeva and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard underlined their potential, Djokovic cruised past fellow veteran Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 72 minutes.

In the women’s draw, world No. 1 Sabalenka – who is aiming to win the Australian Open for the third time in a row – beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

Djokovic and Monfils played an entertaining match, but the 37-year-old Serb was always in control as he notched his 20th straight win over the Frenchman.

The former world No. 1 plays giant American Reilly Opelka in the last eight.

“We’ve been playing a long time. I’ve known Gael since I was 15 and he was 16,” said Djokovic, who is pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title at Melbourne Park later in January.

“I’ve had a good score against him over the years, but we’ve had some incredible battles on different surfaces. Hopefully we can play some more before we both retire.”

Russian Andreeva demolished Linda Noskova 6-3, 6-0 in the women’s draw, while Mpetshi Perricard downed fourth-seeded American Frances Tiafoe 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to reach the quarter-finals.

A year after losing to the same player at the season-opening event, Andreeva displayed her improvement with a 63-minute romp over the 20-year-old Czech.

The Russian, 17, faces Ons Jabeur of Tunisia next.

“Last year she (Noskova) almost killed me in the quarter-finals, so I was thinking it’s time to take my revenge,” Andreeva said.

The Russian started the year ranked 16th in the world and is tipped by many to challenge for a Grand Slam in 2025.

“My No. 1 goal for the 2025 season is to crack the top 10,” said Andreeva, who is coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.

The towering Mpetshi Perricard, 21, who beat Australian Nick Kyrgios in an entertaining first-round clash, again served superbly to defeat US Open semi-finalist Tiafoe.

After serving 36 aces in his three-set win over Kyrgios, the Frenchman sent down another 20 against the more experienced Tiafoe.

Mpetshi Perricard, who next plays the 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik, said: “The first set was very tight on serve, but I managed to put some pressure on his second serve and it worked.”

At the Hong Kong Open, Russian world No. 8 Andrey Rublev’s Australian Open preparations took an unexpected hit as the top seed was dumped out in the second round by Fabian Marozsan on Jan 2.

The 25-year-old Hungarian won 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in just under two hours and faces 19-year-old Chinese Shang Juncheng in the last eight at Victoria Park. REUTERS, AFP