Hubert Hurkacz defeats Alexander Zverev, Iga Swiatek to seal Poland Fed Cup title | ATP Tour
federation cup
Hulkac defeats Zverev, Swiatek secures Polish League Cup title
Poland beats Germany in 2024 championship rematch
January 5, 2026
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Hubert Hekatz beat Alexander Zverev in Sydney on Monday in his first match of the season.
Author: ATP/WTA Staff
Hubert Hurkac beat Alexander Zverev in Sydney on Monday night before Iga Swiatek rallied after a break and beat the rapidly improving Eva Rice to help Poland beat Germany 2-0 in the Confederations Cup.
After missing nearly seven months with a right knee injury and undergoing arthroscopic surgery on July 2, Hurkach made a statement about his return to action. The 28-year-old gave his country the lead with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over world number three Alexander Zverev.
“I haven’t played in a while. I’ve been going through difficult times with the team for seven months and it’s been very challenging,” Hrkach said. “They all support me, they all support me. We did go through a long period of time without playing and not knowing when we would [would] Being able to get back on the court again. I just want to cherish and enjoy every moment on the court today. “
Hulkac has not played a match in ‘s-Hertogenbosch since June, causing him to drop to 83rd in the PIF ATP rankings. But the former world No. 6 fared well above his ranking at Ken Rosewall Arena, facing just one break point in his victory that lasted one hour and 23 minutes.
The two-time Nitto ATP Finals excelled under pressure against Zverev, sealing a crucial break point at 3-3 in the second set. According to Infosys ATP statistics, Hulkac faced only one break point in this game, and he hit 21 aces, giving his opponent almost no chance to score.
“My serve was really good. I found good positions, so it was definitely a good feeling to really have a good rhythm on my serve,” Hulkac said. “Very happy with the performance and happy to see the fans again.”
Zverev came into the Lexus ATP series against Hurkacs with a 3-1 lead, but he was unable to consistently make Hurkacs uncomfortable as he did against Dutchman Talon Grikspoor on Sunday.
Swiatek then needed to overcome Rice’s strong serve, earning a decisive break in the 10th game of the deciding set and winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in less than two and a half hours.
Leith had never won more than two games in six previous matches against Swiatek. The German defeated Netherlands’ Susan Lamens in her first Manchester United Cup match and looked poised to pull off an upset after breaking serve in the second set to lead 3-1. The six-time Grand Slam champion then made a comeback.
Swiatek won five games in a row to win the second set 6-3, and broke again in the third set to lead 3-1. Just when the momentum seemed to be shifting decisively in the Pole’s favour, Rice broke serve to level the deciding set at 3-3.
The performance on the second serve proved decisive. Swiatek’s second-server winning rate was 52%, while Liss’s scoring rate was 39%, while the two players’ first-serve scoring rates were almost even, with Swiatek’s 54% and Liss’s 53%.
Swiatek’s current Manchester United Cup record is 12-2, her 31st win in her past 32 games against players ranked outside the top 40. This game is a rematch of the 2024 Manchester United Cup final.
