<figure id="attachment_3253788" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3253788" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3253788 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/c3fd02a6-afp__20260110__929r2lv__v1__midres__tennisausunited_cropped_2.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3253788" class="wp-caption-text">Belinda Bencic (centre) and Stan Wawrinka (left) celebrate after Switzerland wins the mixed doubles semi-final at United Cup. (AFP pic)</figcaption></figure>
SYDNEY: Stan Wawrinka lost in three sets in gruelling Sydney heat of more than 40°C, but Switzerland beat Belgium today to reach their first United Cup final.
Switzerland won 2-1, with Belinda Bencic playing a starring role, and will face either holders, the US or Poland, in Sunday&#8217;s decider.
The Tokyo Olympic champion Bencic put Switzerland on their way in the semi-finals with a battling 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/0) victory over Elise Mertens in two hours and 37 minutes.
&#8220;It feels like 170 kilos fell off my shoulders &#8211; I was so stressed, I really wanted to do well and today I felt so much pressure to not let my team down,&#8221; Bencic said.
Then it was over to the 40-year-old Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion who was on Friday handed a wildcard to the Australian Open starting on Jan 18.
Wawrinka, playing his final year before retirement, fought back to force a deciding set against Zizou Bergs, but the Belgian ultimately won 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 in two-and-a-half hours in the searing heat.
That meant the semi-final went down to the mixed doubles, with Bencic and Jakub Paul defeating Bergs and Mertens in another three-set battle.
&#8220;The team spirit is amazing and it starts with the captain,&#8221; Bencic said, referring to Wawrinka.
&#8220;He&#8217;s supporting all throughout my match and then he goes out to play his own match and then he&#8217;s back to support the doubles.
&#8220;It starts with him but then with all the energy from our bench it gives us such a spirit to win,&#8221; Bencic said.
Poland and the US play later Saturday.

MatchPoint Times

Switzerland battles into United Cup final in searing Sydney heat

Switzerland won 2-1, with Belinda Bencic playing a starring role.

Germany’s Merz heads to India to bolster trade, security ties

Like it or not Najib once led Umno, Loke reminds DAP members