Poland Dethrones USA, Will Play Switzerland in United Cup Final

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, January 10, 2026
Photo credit: United Cup Facebook

Tiebreak toughness helped Poland dethrone defending United Cup champion United States.

Jan Zielinski and Katarzyna Kawa out-dueled Christian Harrison and Coco Gauff 7-6(5), 7-6(3) lifting Poland into the United Cup final with a 2-1 win over the Americans at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney today.

“It’s hard to recall what happened,”Zielinski said. “It’s an incredible feeling. First of all, I have to say hats off to Hubert Hurkacz…He’s just an inspiration to all of us.”

Poland, which won all four of its sets in tiebreakers today, avenged its loss to Team USA in the 2025 final and will face Switzerland in tomorrow’s final.  

The Polish side saved a set point in the first set then saved two more set points when Gauff served for the second set.

“I’m so proud of our team,” Kawa said. “It means a lot to us.”

Hubert Hurkacz edged Taylor Fritz 7-6(1), 7-6(2) to avenge his third-set tiebreaker loss to the American No. 1 in the 2025 final and stake Poland to a 1-0 lead.

Then, Gauff delivered some of her most dynamic tennis of this young season dismissing Swiatek 6-4, 6-2, to level the tie at 1-all and force the decisive tiebreaker.

Talk about turnaround in this rivalry.

Remember, Swiatek had beaten Gauff in 11 of their first 12 meetings with all 11 victories coming in straight sets. 

Since that ignominious start, Gauff has now won four in a row vs. Swiatek—including a 6-1, 6-1 sweep in Madrid last May and a 6-4, 6-4 triumph at the 2025 United Cup—to close the gap to 11-5 in the powerful Pole’s favor.

Today, Gauff set the tone on serve. She served 75 percent and won 73 percent of her first-serve points.

Gauff scored first-break blood for 3-1, then confirmed the break for 4-1.

World No. 2 Swiatek hit her stride, tearing through 12 points in a row to level at 4-all. Gauff held then converted her first set point on the Swiatek serve snatching a one-set lead.

“I didn’t the let the opportunities that I had on the first two times I had match points get away from me,” Gauff said. “She played well. Maybe there was one error on the backhand, but after that, she played the better tennis, but I knew that how I was playing the whole match I would get it done.”

Poland showed its toughness saving a set point in the opening set before Kawa issued a crucial hold to force the first-set tiebreaker.

In the breaker, Zielinski took over thumping successive smashes to put Poland ahead 3-1. Handcuffing Gauff with a body blow, Zielinski gave Poland a 5-3 lead.

Harrison split the defense with a forehand winner down the middle to level the breaker at 5-all. In the ensuing point, Zielinski and Harrison went toe-to-toe in a crackling forehand exchange until Kawa spooked the American with a poach attempt. Harrison tried to beat her down the line, but missed a forehand well wide handing Poland a set point.

Zielinski belted a backhand winner crosscourt off the Gauff serve staking Poland to a one-set lead.

The mixed doubles was deadlocked at 3-all in the second set, when Team USA amped up its returns against the Kawa serve.

Seeing Zielinski move early on a poach, Gauff zapped a forehand return winner down the line sealing the love break to put the Americans ahead 4-3. 

Gauff stamped a strong hold at 15 to back up the break for 5-3.

Harrison served for the second set at 5-4, but Kawa came up with a pair of precision lobs right off the baseline to give the Polish side break point. Harrison double faulted off the tape and Poland was back in business at 5-all.

The Americans broke Kawa for 6-5 then held double-set point on Gauff’s serve, but could not close. On the second set point, Gauff froze and did not play a Zielinski return that landed on the baseline. Zielinski knifed a backhand volley winner as Poland broke to force the second-set tiebreaker.

Credit Zielinski for taking over the second set tiebreaker. Zielinski hit a volley winner giving Poland the first mini break for 2-1. Dancing around jhis backhand, Zielinski fired a forehand winner down the line for a 4-2 Polish lead.

Gauff netted a volley as Poland earned match points at 6-3.

Poland sealed the win when Harrison’s forehand strayed wide.