Five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek yesterday beat Elena Rybakina in straight sets to take Poland into the final of the mixed-teams United Cup with victory over Kazakhstan.
Last year’s runners-up face the US today for the title in Sydney after they beat the Czech Republic in the other semi-final.
“This win makes me really proud,” Swiatek said after seeing off Rybakina 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to give Poland an unassailable 2-0 lead in the tie.
Photo: AFP
It was a statement of intent from the world number two with the first major of the year to start on Jan. 12.
“It is perfect preparation for the Australian Open,” she said.
Swiatek again played with strapping on her right thigh, having been troubled in her tough three-set win over Britain’s Katie Boulter in the quarter-finals.
Photo: EPA-EFE
That clash lasted nearly three hours and Swiatek was slow out of the blocks against Rybakina, who is ranked sixth in the world.
They went to a first-set tie break after Rybakina saved two set points, before the 23-year-old Pole pulled away to take her country into the final.
“I for sure did not start well and had the handbrake on a bit. I knew I had to do something and change the momentum,” Swiatek said. “I told myself I am not going to miss any more. For sure it was tough, it’s always tough against Elena.”
Photo: AFP
Before that, Hubert Hurkacz put Poland on the way when he beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in the men’s singles.
BRISBANE
AFP, BRISBANE, Australia
Defending champion Grigor Dimitrov yesterday retired from the semi-finals of the Brisbane International with an apparent groin injury, barely a week before the Australian Open.
Unseeded Czech player Jiri Lehecka was leading 6-4, 4-4 when the Bulgarian left the court with the physiotherapist for a medical timeout.
Dimitrov, ranked No. 10 in the world, returned, but played one point before retiring.
Lehecka faces Reilly Opelka in the final after the American beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
It is to be the 23-year-old’s fourth final on the ATP Tour and he will be aiming to add the Brisbane title to his Adelaide win in January last year.
“I will need to be focused 100 percent all the time,” Lehecka said about facing Opelka in the final. “I will need to focus on every point, every chance, because the chance can be gone in a very small moment. I think for me the most important thing will be to focus on my own service games, then try to figure something out on return.”
Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova continued her fairytale week when she beat Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-3 in the first women’s semi-final.
She has now won seven matches in a row at this week’s tournament, but will have a big step up in class in the final world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who eliminated Russian Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2 in the other semi-final.
AUCKLAND CLASSIC
AFP, AUCKLAND, New Zealand
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka yesterday reached her first final since 2022 as she swept aside unseeded American Alycia Parks at the Auckland Classic.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan won 6-4, 6-2 in another confidence boost ahead of the Australian Open.
She is to play Clara Tauson in today’s final after the Dane ousted Robin Montgomery of the US 6-4, 6-3.
In the women’s doubles on Friday, Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu of China advanced to today’s final with a 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 win over Makoto Ninomiya of Japan and Hungary’s Fanny Stollar.
The Taiwanese-Chinese duo face Sabrina Santamaria of the US and Serbian Aleksandra Krunic in the final.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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