Sun Jan 05 06:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Poland Defeats Kazakhstan, Advances to United Cup Final
**Sydney, Australia –** Iga Swiatek powered Poland into the United Cup final with a hard-fought victory over Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in Sydney on Saturday. Swiatek’s 7-6(5), 6-4 win, following Hubert Hurkacz’s earlier straight-sets defeat of Alexander Shevchenko (6-3, 6-2), secured an insurmountable 2-0 lead for Poland. The Poles will now face the United States, the 2023 champions, in Sunday’s final.
Swiatek’s win was particularly significant, as Rybakina had previously won four of their six previous encounters. The match was a closely contested affair, with Rybakina initially dominating, leading 5-3 in the first set. However, Swiatek rallied, winning a crucial tiebreak after saving set points. The second set saw Swiatek break Rybakina for a 4-3 lead, ultimately securing the victory despite facing a break point in the final game. Swiatek commented on her victory, highlighting the difficulty of playing Rybakina on faster surfaces and emphasizing her determination to change the momentum of the match.
Hurkacz also contributed significantly to Poland’s success. He dominated Shevchenko, bouncing back from previous losses in the group stage to deliver a confident performance. His strong serve and baseline play proved too much for Shevchenko. Poland completed the sweep with a mixed doubles win, cementing their place in the final.
First Piper 