Hubert Hurkacz Beats Stan Wawrinka On Return From Injury! Leads Poland To Maiden United Cup Title

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz concluded an emotional comeback from injury and led his country to their first United Cup title with a victory over Switzerland in Sydney on Sunday.

Switzerland initially surprised

everyone as Belinda Bencic defeated world number two Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the opening singles match of the mixed teams event.

Playing his first tournament in seven months after undergoing knee surgery, the 28-year-old Hurkacz overcame a challenge from Stan Wawrinka to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, pushing the final to a decisive doubles match.

Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski then secured the historic victory by defeating Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3.

Hurkacz’s performance was noteworthy as he fired 18 aces against the 40-year-old Wawrinka, erasing the disappointment of two previous close misses in the United Cup finals.

In 2024, Hurkacz had two championship points but lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev. The USA’s Taylor Fritz beat him in a third-set tie-break in the following year.

“He’s definitely an inspiration,” Hurkacz said about Wawrinka, who is in his final season on tour before retirement.

“I grew up watching him play, compete, and win so much. His game style is really powerful, and the shots he can pull off are admirable even from the other side of the net.”

Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games against a stunned Swiatek, marking her second victory over the world number two.

“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” said Bencic, who won all five of her singles matches in the tournament.

“I thought I was playing well but found myself 0-3 down. I wondered, ‘What do I need to do?’ I just tried to maintain my level and wait for opportunities.”

With the title on the line, Zielinski and Kawa triumphed over the Swiss pair, who had been unbeaten in the tournament, thwarting Bencic’s attempt to achieve a perfect 10-0 record in singles and doubles.

(With inputs from Agencies)