Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz will lead top-seeded Poland into battle at the United Cup on Saturday when they face Brazil in Group A in Perth.
Poland is a formidable team at this year’s event and will be eager to go deeper than last year, when it reached the semi-finals in the inaugural edition of the mixed-teams tournament.
World No. 1 Swiatek, who won six titles in 2023, will face Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, who earned victory in her first singles match of the year on Friday when she beat Sara Sorribes Tormo. Swiatek is level at 1-1 with Haddad Maia in the pair’s WTA Head2Head and is relishing the opportunity to get back on court after the offseason.
“I think it's a special event. Really exciting,” Swiatek said during Poland’s pre-tournament press conference. “Different than any other tournament. It's great to have the opportunity to play with the team and feel a little bit of the support from other players because usually we're on our own on other tournaments. Last year the atmosphere was pretty great. I'm pretty sure this year is going to be the same.”
World No. 9 Hurkacz will follow Swiatek onto court, facing Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild. The Pole, who won tour-level titles in Marseille and Shanghai in 2023, will then team with Swiatek in the mixed doubles. Brazil lost its opening Group A tie 1-2 against Spain.
The first tie of the day in Perth pits Czech Republic against China. Last season’s Australian Open quarter-finalist Jiri Lehecka plays Zhang Zhizhen, who reached a career-high No. 52, the highest position any Chinese man has reached in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova will then get her season underway against Zheng Qinwen.
In Sydney, play at the United Cup commences for the first time this season. Germany possesses an impressive line-up with Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev. Former WTA World No. 1 Kerber will compete for the first time since Wimbledon 2022 after giving birth to her first child earlier this year, playing Italian Jasmine Paolini.
World No. 7 Zverev will take a 2-0 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into his match against Lorenzo Sonego. Zverev went 55-27 in the 2023 season after returning from an ankle injury he suffered at Roland Garros in 2022.
The Netherlands faces Norway in the earlier tie at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney. World No. 11 Casper Ruud plays Tallon Griekspoor, while Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus faces Malene Helgo.
ORDER OF PLAY - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2023
KEN ROSEWALL ARENA – SYDNEY - start 10:30 am
A. Rus (NED) vs M. Helgo (NOR)
T. Griekspoor (NED) vs C. Ruud (NOR)
D. Schuurs (NED) / W. Koolhof (NED) vs U. Eikeri (NOR) / C. Ruud (NOR)
Not Before 5:30 pm
J. Paolini (ITA) vs A. Kerber (GER)
Not Before 7:00 pm
L. Sonego (ITA) vs A. Zverev (GER)
A. Moratelli (ITA) / F. Cobolli (ITA) vs L. Siegemund (GER) / M. Marterer (GER)
RAC ARENA – PERTH - start 10:00 am
J. Lehecka (CZE) vs Z. Zhang (CHN)
M. Vondrousova (CZE) vs Q. Zheng (CHN)
M. Vondrousova (CZE) / J. Lehecka (CZE) vs Q. Zheng (CHN) / Z. Zhang (CHN)
Not Before 5:00 pm
I. Swiatek (POL) vs B. Haddad Maia (BRA)
H. Hurkacz (POL) vs T. Seyboth Wild (BRA)
I. Swiatek (POL) / H. Hurkacz (POL) vs B. Haddad Maia (BRA) / M. Melo (BRA)
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