Coco Gauff beat world number 2 Iga Swiatek for the fourth consecutive match – but could not prevent Poland from avenging last year’s United Cup defeat to the United States and returning to the final.
World number 4 Gauff, who lost 11 of her first 12 matches against Swiatek, triumphed 6-4 6-2 to extend her winning streak against the Wimbledon champion, her four recent victories having come in straight sets.
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However, after forcing the decision in the mixed doubles, Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski defeated Gauff and Christian Harrison 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) to send Poland to the final, where they will face Switzerland.
“I thought I did everything well, served well, came back well,” Gauff told the WTA. “I thought it was a big match for me. I was hoping to qualify in mixed but overall there are a lot of positives to take from today.”
Swiatek celebrated with Kawa and Zielinski as the doubles pair sent Poland to the final. Earlier, Hubert Hurkacz defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) in the first singles match.
Poland has lost in the United Cup final in the last two years, to Germany in 2024 and the United States in 2025.
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Switzerland also demanded that the mixed doubles decider beat Belgium in the other semi-final, as Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul triumphed over Elise Mertens and Zizou Bergs 6-3, 0-6, 10-5.
Bencic defeated Mertens in singles action to continue his undefeated start to the season following Bergs’ victory. Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3.
A victory for Switzerland would give three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka, 40, a trophy. to launch his last season before retirement.
