SYDNEY, Australia — Belinda Bencic\u2019s undefeated United Cup run continues. With a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 comeback win over Poland\u2019s Iga Swiatek, The Swiss No. 1 has her country one win away from their first-ever United Cup title. She\u2019s now 9-0 at the tournament, with five wins in singles.<\/p>\n
Hubert Hurkacz must defeat Stan Wawrinka in men\u2019s singles if Poland wants to avoid losing its third straight United Cup final and force a mixed doubles decider, as it trails 1-0 in the tie.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a challenge playing against her and every time I play her, I look for ways to improve and make her life a bit more difficult,\u201d Bencic, who defeated Swiatek for the first time in over four years, said on court. \u201cI think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games, earning her second career victory over the World No. 2 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz and second top 10 win of the season — she defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the group stage. The first set seemed the tie\u2019s first match was going to belong to Swiatek, but the pendulum quickly shifted the momentum into the World No. 11’s favor.<\/p>\n
Swiatek started strong early, holding serve in the opening game with four straight points followed by the match\u2019s first break and another hold. With Swiatek up 3-0, Bencic did settle into the match, winning two consecutive games of her own, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after a backhand winner on the third break point.<\/p>\n
The six-time Grand Slam champion eventually closed out the set, winning three of the next four games, including two breaks of Bencic\u2019s serve. Winning the set 6-3, Swiatek hit a backhand, cross-court winner that the Swiss could not reach.<\/p>\n
The second set, however, would be a Bencic domination with a bagel to force a deciding third set. Bencic started the second set winning nine consecutive points, and in the third game, she saved two break points. The following game, she\u2019d get the crucial break on the third chance and finished the set in 33 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,\u201d Bencic said. \u201cI thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was \u2018OK, what do I have to do.\u2019 I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.\u201d<\/p>\n
After three consecutive games with service holds to begin the third, Bencic notched the turning point. With a powerful forehand to set up break point, she took advantage of the crucial point, returning Swiatek\u2019s serve with a convincing backhand winner. Following a service hold, Bencic put herself within two games of the win, leading 4-1.<\/p>\n
Swiatek fought to the last point, holding two games of serve and saving two match points with a pair of aces. But as Swiatek — who had an uncharacteristic 36 unforced errors her opponent\u2019s 10 — trailed 5-3, Bencic set herself up with triple match point, and her backhand winner into the open court sealed the deal. \u00a0<\/p>\n
More to come<\/p>\n
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