Bring the popcorn: Gauff, Swiatek and Sabalenka star in finals day
One of the beauties of sport -- and tennis in particular -- is its continual capacity to surprise. For instance: The Czech Republic and Kazakhstan, seeded eighth and ninth, respectively, reached the semifinals at this frenetic United Cup.
But at the end of another dramatic day, it was the two top seeds -- the United States and Poland -- advancing to Sunday’s final in Sydney. No.2-seeded Poland took care of Kazakhstan 3-0 and later No.1 Team USA followed with a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic.
Poland, a finalist last year before losing to Germany, looks to take the final step in this spirited 18-nation competition. The Americans, winners of the inaugural event two years ago, are intent on winning two of three titles.
The marquee match: No.2 Iga Swiatek
Fritz was trailing Tomas Machac 6-7 (4), 6-5 when the Czech Republic player abruptly retired with cramping. Machac, who led 5-3 in the second, actually served for the match.
“Poland’s got a great team,” U.S. captain Michael Russell said. “I think keys to the match are coming out and fighting like Coco and Taylor did so well today.
“It’s going to come down to maybe a few points, but we have a great bench behind us, too, so it will be fun.”
Fun is the operative word because it’s championship Sunday of 2025’s Week 1 Down Under.
That’s because World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka
It’s a dazzling day: The top three players in the PIF WTA Tour Rankings are in action. Sliced another way, the two active players with the most Grand Slam singles titles -- Swiatek (5) and Osaka (4) -- will be on court.
United Cup
Group A winner United States (4-0) vs. Group B winner Poland (4-0)
Start time: (5:30 p.m. local, 1:30 a.m. ET)
[1] Coco Gauff
[1] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. [2] Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
[1] Coco Gauff
Swiatek’s 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina
Swiatek -- who was wearing a wrap on her right thigh -- has now won 14 of the 15 matches she’s played at the United Cup. She holds a commanding 11-2 lead in the head-to-head.
“She’s playing great,” Swiatek said of the 20-year-old Gauff. “I think at this stage she’s developing every month, and it’s going to be also a nice challenge. I can kind of play without expectations and just push for more as I did today.”
Fritz has won three of the four matches he’s played against Hurkacz, most recently a 7-6 (2), 6-4 round of 16 win last year in Madrid.
“I think Hubi is tough,” Fritz said. “I think one thing going for me is I think I served really well today. I have been serving well the whole tournament. So that’s something I’m definitely going to need against him.”
Fritz was part of the 2022 United Cup championship team; Gauff is playing for the first time.
Brisbane International
[1] A. Sabalenka vs. [Q] P. Kudermetova
Start time: (4:30 p.m. local, 1:30 a.m. ET)
A year ago, Aryna Sabalenka
On Sunday, she’ll give it another go, this time against qualifier Polina Kudermetova
“I’m super happy to be in the finals again,” Sabalenka said afterward. “Hopefully I can do better than I did last year.”
Kudermetova defeated Anhelina Kalinina
Auckland ASB Classic
[5] C. Tauson (DEN) vs. [7] N. Osaka (JPN)
Start time: (5 p.m. local, 11 p.m. ET)
This is what Naomi Osaka
The No.7-seeded Osaka was a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Alycia Parks
