United Cup | Swiatek launches its season with a success against Norway

(Sydney) World No.2 Iga Swiatek launched her 2025 season by winning for Poland its two United Cup matches against Norway (2-1) on Monday in Sydney.

The 23-year-old Pole first easily won her singles at the expense of Malene Helgo (404^e) 6-1, 6-0, allowing Poland to equalize after the defeat of Hubert Hurkacz (16^e) against Casper Ruud (6^e) 7-5, 6-3.

In the decisive mixed doubles, Swiatek associated with Jan Zielinski defeated the pair of Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri 6-3, 0-6, 10-8.

In this group stage of the United Cup, a mixed national team tournament preparatory to the Australian Open (January 12-26), Poland must play its second match on Wednesday against the Czech Republic.

Title holder, Germany of Alexander Zverev (2^e world) qualified for the quarter-finals by defeating China (2-1) on Monday in Perth. The Germans finish at the top of their group E, ahead of China and Brazil.

The Kazakhstan, under the direction of Elena Rybakina (6^e), also qualified for the next round by finishing first in Group C, ahead of Greece and Spain.

With her two victories on Monday, Iga Swiatek starts her season in the hope of turning the page on her doping affair which tarnished her year 2024.

She tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a heart medication, in a sample taken out of competition in August, when she was world No.1.

The affair only came to light three months later, after the player had been suspended for a month. Absent from three tournaments in Asia, she cited personal reasons at the time.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled at the time that the violation was not intentional.

Swiatek said on Friday that there was no reason for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to appeal this decision.