Clinical Iga Swiatek romps as Stefanos Tsitsipas crashes at tennis’ United Cup

PERTH – Iga Swiatek romped to an emphatic victory in her season-opening match at the United Cup on Dec 30, but Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed as Kazakhstan upset Greece to make the knockout rounds of the mixed-team tournament.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek was on court for the first time since news broke in late November that she served a one-month ban for a doping violation.

But the Pole quickly shook off any nerves in Sydney with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Norway’s Malene Helgo, needing just 62 minutes for the demolition job.

“Pleased with everything, honestly,” said the world No. 2.

“I’m happy for sure with the performance. It’s not always easy to play for your country, sometimes the pressure is a bit bigger.

“I feel good, I feel happy, happy I can play tennis overall. I’m just going step by step and we’ll see what’s next.”

The 23-year-old tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine in an out-of-competition sample in August when she was ranked No. 1.

However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted that the violation was not intentional and she received a one-month sanction.

While she was in electric form, Greek star Tsitsipas had a day to forget.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist is coming off a mediocre 2024 in which his ranking dropped to 11th from a career-high No. 3 and was hoping for a confidence-boosting fresh start in Perth.

But he was stunned 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) by 78th-ranked Alexander Shevchenko.

Kazakh world No. 6 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina then survived a late wobble before burying Greek hopes with a 6-4, 6-3 win over former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari.

“I’m really happy for the team,” said Rybakina, who is working with Novak Djokovic’s former coach Goran Ivanisevic.

“We all tried hard. It was a tough match for me today and I’m so happy to be in the quarter-finals.”

Rybakina took the first set and led 5-0 in the second, but Sakkari won three games in a row to threaten a comeback.

The Kazakh came through on her third match point as Sakkari mishit an overhead after 85 minutes.

“At 5-0, you have nothing to lose. She played more aggressively and hit some good shots,” said Rybakina.

Shevchenko called his win over a sluggish Tsitsipas “one of the best” of his career.

“He was not at his best today. But I played really well and found the moment to win that match,” he said. “It will definitely go in my record as one of my best wins.”

Reigning champions Germany, led by Alexander Zverev, were set to face China in the Perth evening session.

In Sydney, Katie Boulter led Britain to victory over Argentina. All three teams in the group, which also includes hosts Australia, are still in contention for the knockout rounds.

World No. 24 Boulter took 86 minutes to take down 100th-ranked Nadia Podoroska 6-2, 6-3.

Underdog Billy Harris looked on track to seal the tie for Britain when he went a set up against Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

But the Argentine, who lost 6-1, 6-4 to Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Dec 28, rallied for a gutsy 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win to send the tie to a deciding mixed doubles.

Etcheverry took to the court again, with Maria Carle alongside, to take on Boulter and Charles Broom. The British pair came out on top 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. AFP