Belinda Bencic’s undefeated run continues. With a 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 comeback win over Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the Swiss No. 1 has her country one win from their first United Cup title. She’s now 9-0 at the tournament, with five wins in singles.
Hubert Hurkacz must defeat Stan Wawrinka in men’s singles to force a mixed doubles and avoid Poland falling short in its third straight United Cup final.
“It’s 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,” Bencic said on court. “I 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.”
Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games, earning her second victory over the World No. 2. The first set seemed the tie’s first match was going to belong to Swiatek, but the pendulum quickly shifted the momentum into Bencic’s favor.
Swiatek started strong early, holding serve in the opening game with four straight points followed by the match’s first break and another hold. With Swiatek up 3-0, Bencic settled 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.
The World No. 2 eventually closed out the set, winning three of the next four games, including two breaks of Bencic’s serve. Winning the set 6-3, Swiatek hit a crosscourt backhand winner that the Swiss could not reach.
The second set, however, would feature Bencic domination. Bencic started the second set winning nine consecutive points, and in the third game, she saved two break points. The following game, she’d earn the crucial break on the third chance and finished the set in 33 minutes.
“To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do.’ I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”
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’s serve with a convincing backhand winner. 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’s 10 — trailed 5-3, Bencic earned triple match point, and her backhand winner into the open court sealed the deal.