Iga Swiatek kept her momentum going on Monday, securing her second singles victory of the year by beating Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-1 at the United Cup. Poland's path to the quarterfinals was further cemented when Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz delivered a flawless 6-0, 6-0 performance in the mixed doubles decider against Sorribes Tormo and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. This result allowed the top seeds to finish as leaders of Group A in the 18-nation competition, where teams are vying for a share of a $10 million prize fund.
Iga Swiatek registered her second singles win of the season on Monday, defeating Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 at the United Cup. The Pole star teamed up with Hubert Hurkacz to serve a double bagel, helping Poland to reach the mixed-team tournament’s quarterfinals. Swiatek and Hurkacz won the mixed doubles decider 6-0, 6-0 over Sorribes Tormo and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, ensuring the top seeds finished as Group A winners in the 18-nation event where all teams compete to win a prize of $10 million.
The world's top-ranked player, Swiatek, who had already dispatched Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia on Saturday, stepped up for Poland against Spain. Her win over Sorribes Tormo was crucial, as it erased the lead Spain had established after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina overcame Hubert Hurkacz in a hard-fought match ending 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The 22-year-old Swiatek leaned into the social media jokes about 'Iga's Bakery'—a nickname earned because she often wins sets without conceding a single game. 'I'm happy to have another chef in the bakery right now,' she joked, noting that despite Twitter fans saying the shop should be closed for New Year's Eve, she was back in form. She expressed her satisfaction with her own game and praised Hubert Hurkacz as a fantastic mixed doubles partner.
Casper Ruud is using the United Cup as a springboard for the upcoming Australian Open (January 14-28), leading Norway to a 2-1 win over Croatia in Sydney. Although Norway fell behind after Donna Vekic defeated Malene Helgo 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, the former world number two leveled the match by beating Borna Coric 6-4, 6-1. Ruud then partnered with Ulrikke Eikeri to secure the victory, defeating Vekic and Ivan Dodig 6-2, 3-6, 10-7.
Australia has also punched its ticket to the quarterfinals, securing the top spot in Group C after Matthew Ebden and Storm Hunter beat the American pair of Jessica Pegula and Rajeev Ram 6-3, 6-1. The home crowd was energized early on when Alex de Minaur beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-2, though the US managed to stay in the fight when Pegula defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6(6), 6-3.
France edges out Germany 2-1 after Caroline Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin fought back from match points to win a thriller 7-6(4), 2-6, 12-10 against Angelique Kerber and Alexander Zverev. France could potentially top Group D if they beat Italy on January 3. Garcia, who overcame Kerber 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 in her first match, credited their success to staying composed, especially after Zverev had initially given Germany the lead by beating Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.