Swiatek Levels Brisbane City Final For Poland Against Italy

Dan Peled/Tennis Australia

World No.1 Iga Swiatek delivered a comprehensive win for Team Poland in the United Cup City Final in Brisbane, defeating Italy's Martina Trevisan 6-2, 6-4.

The victory leveled the Poland-Italy tie at 1-1 after Italy's Lorenzo Musetti gave Italy a perfect start when he cruised past Poland's Daniel Michalski to open the tie.

The Brisbane City Final continues in the evening session with the No. 1 men's singles match between 2021 Nitto ATP Finals competitors Hubert Hurkacz and Matteo Berrettini. Magda Linette also faces Lucia Bronzetti in the fourth singles match.

If the teams are tied at 2-2 after singles, the tie will be decided by mixed doubles. Poland is scheduled to tap Swiatek and Hurkacz for the match, while Italy is set to play Camilla Rosatello and Musetti, though the teams can opt to make substitutions.

Swiatek played a sharp opening set to roll to after just 34 minutes. Landing 90 per cent of her first serves, Swiatek kept Trevisan at bay and broke the Italian on each of her two break-point chances.

Trevisan tightened up the match in the second set, as Swiatek's level also took a dip. The first five games of the second set lasted longer than the entirety of the first, as the Italian grew in confidence with each Swiatek miss. Swiatek hit just nine unforced errors in the first set but fired 23 in the second.

"It was stressful," Swiatek said. "I feel Martina was really changing the rhythm well. At the end, I tried to be really solid."

Trevisan kept the pressure on Swiatek until the very end. Serving for the win at 5-4, Swiatek was forced to save three break points from 15/40 down, the last wiped out by a clutch ace. On her first match point, Swiatek dug in to out-rally Trevisan and closed out the one-hour,51-minute match.

"It became tight in the end and Martina really used her chances well," Swiatek said. "She could really give it all because I was the one that was leading. I'm happy that even though Martina came back in the second set, I was able to finish it."

Photo Credit: Dan Peled/Tennis Australia
Two-time ATP Tour titlist and Next Gen ATP Finals alumnus Musetti was in full control on Pat Rafter Arena to start the tie, showing his class in a 6-1, 6-1 win against the World No. 260 Michalski. The Italian lost just three service points in his 58-minute victory.

"Of course the serve worked really good," Musetti said. "But I mean every shot [I] had a great feeling with the ball since the first hit on the court. I think I played for sure the best match of the year." 

Musetti oozed with confidence from the first ball against Michalski, waving his racquet like a wand on the court. Michalski struggled to find his rhythm early, which allowed the World No. 23 to play from the lead, which he never relinquished.

"Today I was moving really, really fast with the feet and I think that's a key part for my game," Musetti said. "Today I was on fire from that side, so I could manage the match in a positive way."

The Italian is now 3-0 at the inaugural United Cup. Musetti also earned straight-set victories against Brazilian Felipe Meligeni Alves and Norwegian Viktor Durasovic.

Brisbane City Final Order Of Play 

Not Before 5:30 pm

[2] H. Hurkacz (POL) vs [5] M. Berrettini (ITA)

[2] M. Linette (POL) vs [5] L. Bronzetti (ITA)

[2] I. Swiatek (POL) / H. Hurkacz (POL) vs [5] C. Rosatello (ITA) / L. Musetti (ITA)