After Iga Swiatek and Alex de Minaur<\/a> claimed contrasting singles wins for their countries earlier in the evening, Jan Zielinski<\/a> produced a masterclass with Katarzyna Kawa to seal Poland’s victory with a 6-4, 6-0 win over John-Patrick Smith<\/a> and Storm Hunter. <\/p>\n Advancing to the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year, Poland will get a shot at defending champion United States Saturday night when the singles match-ups \u2013 Swiatek against Coco Gauff and Hurkacz against Taylor Fritz<\/a> – are a repeat of the 2025 final. Last year Gauff won 6-4, 6-4 while Hurkacz suffered a heartbreaking third-set tie-break loss to Fritz.<\/p>\n In a dramatic tie Friday in front of a highly partisan Australian crowd, De Minaur produced one of the grittiest opening-set performances of his career Friday night in Sydney to set up a 6-4, 4-6 6-4 win over Hurkacz to send the last United Cup<\/a> quarter-final to a deciding mixed doubles.<\/p>\n The World No. 6 saved all nine break points he faced across his first four service games \u2013 including four in the second game of the match \u2013 to keep Australia alive after former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek brushed aside Aussie teen Maya Joint 6-1, 6-1. <\/p>\n \u201cNights like these\u2026 these are just the best,\u201d De Minaur said. \u201cI love playing here. The atmosphere from the first ball to the last was amazing. <\/p>\n \u201cI just had to fight him off from the first point to the last. It was a huge mental effort and we\u2019re still alive. I\u2019m glad I was able to bounce back after losing that second set. I had some dark thoughts in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n The tie will now be decided by the mixed doubles, with the winner advancing to Saturday night\u2019s semi-final against defending champion United States. None of the four singles players will compete in the mixed doubles. Australians John-Patrick Smith<\/a> and Storm Hunter will take on Jan Zielinski<\/a> and Katarzyna Kawa.<\/p>\n Playing his first tournament since last year\u2019s grass season, Hurkcaz was near untouchable in his first three service games when he dropped just one point on serve. But growing increasingly frustrated by his inability to cash in on his chances in return games, his unforced error count ticked up in the closing stages of the set.<\/p>\n After De Minaur saved three break points to level at 4-4, the 26-year-old claimed the decisive break and then won 21 consecutive points on serve before unexpectedly dropping serve at the end of the second set. <\/p>\n But inspired by deafening roars from Aussie fans inside Ken Rosewall<\/a> Arena, De Minaur went into lockdown mode with just two unforced errors in the final set en route to his eighth victory in 11 United Cup<\/a> singles appearances.<\/p>\n Earlier, Swiatek overpowered Australia rising star Joint, capturing a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win in just 57 minutes at the United Cup<\/a> quarterfinals.<\/p>\n![\"\u201cATP\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1767418027_359_atp-no-1-club-banner-article.jpg\")
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