Swiatek blasts Poland past France and into United Cup final / Photo: DAVID GRAY - AFP
-
India's education minister resigns, end called to Delhi protests
-
Houthis target Saudi oil as new Middle East front
-
Devastating wildfires send 267,000 fleeing in France and Spain
-
Madeleine McCann's brother reaches Commonwealth Games final
-
Ipswich sign Japan forward Maeda from Celtic
-
Thousands sheltered in Bordeaux as France wildfires trigger exodus
-
Norris finds pace to edge Hamilton in last Hungarian practice
-
Houthis say hit Saudi Arabia as fighting spreads on new Middle East front
-
China evacuates 20,000 people as Typhoon Noul nears
-
Untamed wildfires in Spain, France force over 200,000 to flee
-
Man City's Khusanov signs new five-year contract
-
Spain fights to 'save lives' as wildfires rage near Madrid
-
Atletico complete Lee signing from PSG
-
Spain striker Paralluelo joins Lyon from Barcelona
-
After stellar World Cup, Cape Verde goalkeeper heading to Chile
-
Untamed wildfires force over 160,000 to flee in France, Spain
-
Six ancient Comoros medinas join UNESCO's heritage list
-
Houthis say hit Saudi Arabia as Trump weighs harder Iran strikes
-
Cameroon leader's absence sparks debate over government inaction
-
Houthis claim strike on Saudi Arabia as conflict deepens
-
'Betrayal': The young victims of India's exam leak scandal
-
Teenager allegedly slain by singer D4vd had abortion, court told
-
'The Odyssey' sparks IMAX stampede -- and a backlash
-
100-year-old Mel Brooks lands at Comic-Con for 'Spaceballs' sequel
-
Houthis vow retaliation for Saudi strikes as conflict deepens
-
New York's noisy food carts go electric in clean air trial
-
SpaceX carries out successful Starship test flight, first since going public
-
Lyles wins US 100m title in world-leading 9.79sec
-
Meta quits clean energy pledge amid gas-powered data center push
-
Nazgul haunt the hall as 'Rings of Power' trailer airs at Comic-Con
-
The Scarcest LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson Game Worn Memorabilia You'll See This Year Closes in Hours
-
Turk's term as UN human rights chief extended despite US warnings
-
Trump orders disclaimer signs outside museum of American history
-
US measles outbreak the worst in 35 years: official data
-
Mahomes back in full practice, 'optimistic' for NFL opener
-
Trump weighs harder Iran strikes as conflict widens
-
US panel endorses more unproven if buzzy peptides
-
Scotland's Scott splits Australian swim dominance at Commonwealths
-
ICC prosecutor Karim Khan removed over 'serious misconduct'
-
Paramount agrees to delay Warner Bros. merger
-
Venezuela to withdraw from International Criminal Court
-
Mixed day for global equities as oil prices retreat
-
Trump tariff wall set to stay after Supreme Court blow: analysts
-
Trump says hasn't decided on big Iran strikes, Tehran getting 'serious'
-
Canada inaugurates US border bridge after cancelling joint ceremony
-
Karim Khan: Forensic ICC prosecutor with a tarnished legacy
-
ICC members vote to dismiss embattled prosecutor Karim Khan
-
Sinner, Djokovic withdraw from Montreal Masters
-
Over 100,000 flee or hole up indoors as wildfires rage in France and Spain
-
Ferrari boss cautious after Hamilton and Leclerc shine in Hungary
Swiatek blasts Poland past France and into United Cup final
Four-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek and teammate Hubert Hurkacz swept top seeds Poland into the United Cup final on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over France.
Hurkacz, at a career-high nine in the world, defeated left-hander Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 7-5 in Sydney before world number one Swiatek toppled Caroline Garcia 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
They will play either Alexander Zverev's Germany or hosts Australia in Sunday's mixed teams competition decider in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
It is the first final for Poland, who lost at the semi-final stage last year to eventual champions the United States.
"I'm happy that I came back and I didn't make so many mistakes as in the first set," Swiatek said. "For sure, Caro was putting pressure as usual, so I'm happy that we're through to the final.
"Sometimes it's a bit hard to point (to) one thing that changed (after the first set). I just feel like I needed to calm down a little bit and not rush it," she added.
Garcia was France's saviour in their 2-1 win over Norway in the quarter-finals, coming through a titanic struggle against unheralded Malene Helgo, then backing up to win in mixed doubles.
She again displayed her fighting spirit in breaking Swiatek for a 4-3 lead and taking the first set in 43 minutes.
But that was as good as it got for the world number 20, who folded as Swiatek moved through the gears to dominate the rest of the match
Swiatek grabbed the momentum back in the second set, surging to a 5-0 lead before converting her third set point at 5-1.
A break to love in the opening game of the deciding set deflated Garcia, with Swiatek largely untroubled as she raced to the finish line.
A steady Hurkacz played well in the critical moments and held serve with few problems to close out his match in 1hr and 41mins.
"I think definitely today was a real battle," said Hurkacz, who won the Shanghai Masters last year and also tasted victory at Marseille.
"Adrian was playing really, really tricky shots and it's difficult to play against.
"So I was just battling for every single point, and I think mentally I was able to stay in the present, stay positive before each point and I think I was also really resilient today."
O.Brown--AT
