Iga Swiatek continued her pitch-perfect start to the 2025 season, leading Poland into the 2025 United Cup finals by clinching a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Elena Rybakina.
Following Hubert Hurkacz’s breezy 6-3, 6-2 win over Alexander Shevchenko, Swiatek clinched a 2-0 victory for Poland in two hours and three minutes; they now await the winner of the second semifinal between the United States and the Czech Republic.
“I think that’s the first time I was able to win with Elena on a faster surface, so it means a lot,” Swiatek exclaimed on court after the match. “I for sure didn’t start well, I felt like I had the hand break on. But I knew I needed to do something because this match is going to go to waste. I wanted really to work and change the momentum, and I’m happy I kind of did that in the last possible chance in the first set. I kind of told myself that I’m not going to miss anymore.
“It’s always tough against Elena and it means a lot to me to be able to play today, especially after such an intense day. It’s not easy to recover when you’re finishing and going back to the hotel at 1AM, going to sleep at 5AM. This win makes me really proud.”
