Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz are beaten by Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegmund as Germany wins the 2024 United Cup of Tennis

Germany defeated Poland 2-1 in a thrilling comeback to win the United Cup in Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.

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After Poland took the lead in the women’s singles match by to Iga Swiatek’s straight-set victory over Angelique Kerber, Alexander Zverev saved two championship points against Hubert Hurkacz to equalize the match and send it to a mixed doubles final.

Together with Zverev’s partner Laura Siegemund, Zverev, Swiatek, and Hurkacz returned to the court to battle for their country’s first-ever title.

The match concluded 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 after playing into the Australian evening. Despite Hurkacz being broken in the second set, the Poles fought back to force the decider. However, the German pair dominated the championship tiebreak. A Siegemund serve followed by a Zverev backhand volley secured the title for the Germans, who had gone the distance in every tie during the tournament.

“It’s been amazing. It’s been a pleasure and so much fun for everybody to be part of this team, especially for me,” said Zverev after the doubles. He congratulated Team Poland, acknowledging their remarkable run. Despite the close match, Zverev expressed confidence in Poland’s upcoming season.

In the singles, Swiatek, the world No. 1, defeated her German opponent Kerber 6-3, 6-0. The match showcased Swiatek’s dominance as she rattled off nine straight games, securing victory and giving Poland the lead. Despite Kerber’s strong start, Swiatek’s power and precision allowed her to claim the set 5-3 and serve it out comfortably, ending with 21 winners.

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In her post-singles remarks, Swiatek mentioned, “I felt like she was picking the right spots to play and she surprised me sometimes with her decision-making and choices. I knew she could play like that, but I didn’t have much time to get into the rhythm because she was aiming for these balls inside out. With the ball change, I felt like my game could be more dynamic, and I could push Angelique more after 4-3.”

The subsequent men’s singles match was intense, with Alexander Zverev coming from a set down to defeat Hubert Hurkacz, setting the stage for a deciding mixed doubles showdown for the title. Zverev saved two match points in a tense second-set tie-break to force a decider. Despite the Polish player’s opportunities to secure their nation’s first United Cup trophy, Zverev’s resilience led to a German victory, restoring parity in the overall tie.

Zverev’s momentum carried into the doubles, where he played a key role in leading Germany to their first United Cup success.