<figure id="attachment_3254562" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3254562" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3254562" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/75becc71-poland-united-cup-11012026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3254562" class="wp-caption-text">Team Poland pose for photos after winning the 2026 United Cup final against Switzerland in Sydney. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
SYDNEY: Hubert Hurkacz capped his injury comeback and earned United Cup redemption as he inspired Poland to a first title with a 2-1 victory in the final against Switzerland in Sydney on Sunday.
Switzerland took an early lead when Belinda Bencic stunned world number two Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the opening singles of the mixed teams event.
Playing his first tournament in seven months following knee surgery, 28-year-old Hurkacz withstood a Stan Wawrinka fightback to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and send it to a deciding doubles.
Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski then completed a famous victory by beating Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 to erase the heartbreak of Poland losing in the final in 2024 and 2025.
&#8220;Finally, we made it! Third time lucky!&#8221; Swiatek said during the trophy ceremony.
&#8220;I really felt it was a team effort this year.
&#8220;Hubi, what a comeback after so many months. You played amazingly. You inspired us all with determination.
&#8220;Our doubles team, wow! You just beat everyone. It was amazing.&#8221;
Hurkacz fired 18 aces against the 40-year-old Wawrinka to erase two heartbreaking near misses in the last two United Cup finals.
In 2024, Hurkacz squandered two championship points before falling to Germany&#8217;s Alexander Zverev. The USA&#8217;s Taylor Fritz denied him in a third-set tie-break last year.
&#8220;He&#8217;s definitely an inspiration,&#8221; Hurkacz said of Wawrinka, who is playing his final season on tour before retirement.
&#8220;I was growing up watching him play, compete and win so much. Obviously his game style is really powerful.
&#8220;The shots that he can pull off sometimes, you can really admire them even when you are on the other side of the net.&#8221;
Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games against a shell-shocked Swiatek, earning her second victory over the world number two.
&#8220;To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,&#8221; said Bencic, who won all five of her singles matches in the tournament.
&#8220;I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was &#8216;OK, what do I have to do?&#8217;
&#8220;I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.&#8221;
With the title on the line, Zielinski partnered Kawa to victory over the Swiss pair who had been unbeaten in the tournament, scuppering Bencic&#8217;s attempt at a perfect 10-0 record in singles and doubles.
&#8220;This moment is so bittersweet,&#8221; Bencic said, adding Switzerland had nothing to be disappointed about.
&#8220;We can be so proud of ourselves and we really deserve to celebrate this. It was truly one of the best weeks of my life.&#8221;

MatchPoint Times

Comeback kid Hurkacz inspires Poland to first United Cup title

Returning from knee surgery after seven months, Hubert Hurkacz led Poland to a 2-1 United Cup final victory against Switzerland.

Floods keep 26 Sarawak schools closed as new term begins

PN can’t cling to the past to stay relevant, says Bersatu man