Coco Gauff showcased her growing dominance in tennis by defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek for the fourth consecutive time, winning their latest match 6-4, 6-2. This victory helped Gauff level the United Cup tie at 1-1, following a loss for Taylor Fritz against Hubert Hurkacz in the men’s singles. Despite Gauff’s impressive performance, the USA were eliminated from the tournament after she and partner Christian Harrison lost in the mixed doubles against Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski, both sets going to tie-breaks.
The defeat marked the end of the USA’s hope of clinching the United Cup title for the third time in four years. Poland will now advance to face Switzerland in the finals, aiming for their first championship after previously finishing as runners-up in earlier editions.
Gauff’s victory over Swiatek is noteworthy, especially since she had lost 11 out of their first 12 encounters. Her recent performance has been on an upswing, having previously defeated Swiatek in significant matches, including the 2024 WTA Finals and the 2025 United Cup final. Gauff’s confidence was evident as she surged to a 4-1 lead in the first set. Although Swiatek rallied back to tie it at 4-4, Gauff eventually broke back and maintained control, racing to a 5-0 lead in the second set before clinching the match.
Reflecting on her win, Gauff commented on her strong performance and stated, “I didn’t let the opportunities that I had on the first few times I had match points get away from me.” This resilience bodes well for Gauff as she heads towards the upcoming Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Switzerland is celebrating its first United Cup final berth after defeating Belgium 2-1. Belinda Bencic played a pivotal role, winning both her singles and mixed doubles matches. Bencic, who has gone undefeated throughout the tournament, expressed her relief after the match, indicating the pressure she felt to perform for her team.
On another front, Aryna Sabalenka has made her way to the Brisbane International final for the third consecutive year, marking her return to form after a string of setbacks. She will face Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the final after both players produced solid performances in their semi-final matches.
As the tennis season heats up, these results set the stage for an exciting start to 2024. Gauff’s ascent and the competitive spirit shown by players like Bencic and Sabalenka promise thrilling matches ahead in the new year.