Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz secure Poland’s spot in the United Cup semifinal at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Former world number 6 Hubert Hurkacz beat Great Britain’s Billy Harris 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 to give Poland a 1-0 leadin the first men’s singles match in the quarter final
Hurkacz, who had lost both of his singles matches against Casper Ruud and Tomas Machac in the group stage, saved all three break points he faced and won 88% of his first serve points. Harris only dropped serve once in the 1 hour and 45 minute match, but he missed a backhand long to lose the tie-break of the first set. Hurkacz broke serve to take a 6-5 lead, as Harris missed another backhand at the net in the second set. Hurkacz won the 150th tour-level hard-court match.
“I am definitely pleased with myself. Today was a really difficult battle with Billy. He was playing some really great tennis and definitely really happy to get through one”, said Hurkacz.
World number 2 Iga Swiatek fought back from a break down in the decisive set to beat Katie Boulter 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 in their first head-to-head match in the women’s singles match sealing an unsurmountable 2-0 lead.
Swiatek earned her first break in the second game of the opening set and saved four break points to hold serve for 3-0. Swiatek extended her lead to 4-1. Boulter broke back in the seventh game and held serve at love to draw level to 4-4 forcing the match to the tie-break. Swiatek opened up a 2-0 lead, but Boulter won three consecutive points to take a 3-2 lead. Swiatek won the following two points to take a 4-3 lead. Boulter reeled off the final four points to win the tie-break 7-4 after 74 minutes. Swiatek bounced back by breaking three times to win the second set 6-1.
Boulter broke at love in the third game of the decisive set to take a 2-1 lead. Swiatek took an off-court medical time-out and returned to the court with strapping on her upper right leg. After the match resumed, Swiatek won eight consecutive points to draw level to 2-2. Boulter saved two break points, as she was serving down 4-3. Swiatek fended off a break point to take a 5-4 lead. The five-time Grand Slam broke serve at love to seal the third set 6-4 after 2 hours and 57 minutes.
“The match was crazy. So many changes of momentum. I thought I had it under control in the first set but for sure I got tight and I did not work on it. I did not want to repeat the mistake in the third set. I tried to keep pushing knowing that I had to keep up the quality, because I would not have to play these long rallies if I am more precise, but for sure it’s harder to be precise under so much pressure, but I made it today. For sure it’s a step forward. In some moments I knew I could be more brave and in the end I was able to, so I was happy”, said Swiatek. Poland will take on Kazakhstan in the quarter final.
