Iga Swiatek beat Elena Rybakina in straight sets to send Poland into the United Cup mixed team final on Saturday with victory over Kazakhstan.
The Polandfinalist already last year will meet the UNITED STATESled by Coco Gauff, or the Czech RepublicSunday, for the title in Sydney.
“This victory makes me very proud“, said Iga Swiatek after beating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (5), 6-4 to give Poland an unshakeable lead of 2-0 in the match.
This is a true statement of intent from the world number two, as the first major tournament of the year begins on January 12.
“It’s perfect preparation for the Australian Open“, said the Polish woman.
Swiatek played again with a strapping in the right thigh, after being hampered during her three-set victory against the Briton Katie Boulter in the quarter-finals.
This confrontation lasted almost three hours and Swiatek was slow to start against Rybakina, sixth in the world.
The two players parted in a tie-break after Rybakina saved two set points, before the 23-year-old Pole took the upper hand to take her country to the final.
“I didn’t start well and pulled on the handbrake a bit. I knew I had to do something to change the dynamic“, said Swiatek.
“I told myself I wasn’t going to miss any more. C‘sure it was difficult, it’s always difficult against Elena.
Before that, Hubert Hurkacz put Poland on the path by beating Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in the men’s singles.
Hurkacz, 16th in the rankings, lost both of his singles matches in the group stage, but beat the Briton Billy Harris in the quarter-finals and took advantage of this momentum to meet Shevchenko.
“The last match here gave me some confidence and I play better in each match” Hurkacz said.
The United States will face the Czechs in the other semifinal on Saturday.
