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SYDNEY, January 6, 2024 – Belinda Bencic’s remarkable winning streak continues, propelling Switzerland to the brink of thier first United Cup title. The Swiss No. 1 secured a thrilling 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 comeback victory over Poland’s Iga Swiatek, bringing her tournament record to an impressive 9-0 with five wins in singles competition.
Bencic’s Resilience Fuels Swiss United Cup Bid
The Swiss star overcame a slow start to dominate, leaving Poland needing a win to avoid a third consecutive final defeat.
- Bencic remains undefeated at the United Cup, showcasing exceptional form.
- Her comeback win against World No. 2 Swiatek was pivotal for Switzerland.
- Poland now relies on Hubert Hurkacz to defeat Stan Wawrinka to stay alive in the competition.
- Bencic won 12 of the final 15 games in a stunning display of momentum.
The match initially favored Swiatek, who started strong, holding serve and securing an early break. She quickly established a 3-0 lead, but Bencic refused to concede. The Swiss player battled back, winning two consecutive games and narrowing the gap to 3-2 with a well-placed backhand winner.
Swiatek ultimately closed out the first set 6-3, capitalizing on a crosscourt backhand that Bencic couldn’t reach. However, the second set witnessed a dramatic shift in momentum. Bencic stormed back, winning the first nine points and saving two break points in the third game. She secured a crucial break and completed the set in just 33 minutes.
What did Bencic say about her mindset during the match? “To be honest, I felt I was in the match from the very first point. I thought I was going great and I was 0-3 down. I was ‘OK, what do I have to do.’ I think I just tried to keep the level and just wait for some chances.”
“It’s always a challenge playing against her and every time I play her, I look for ways to improve and make her life a bit more difficult,” Bencic said after the match. “I think the difference today was I played very freely, I was really enjoying myself out on the court and I was just really going for it.”
The deciding set began with three consecutive holds of serve. Bencic then seized control with a powerful forehand that set up a break point, which she converted with a convincing backhand winner. Swiatek fought valiantly, holding serve twice and saving two match points with a pair of aces. However,trailing 5-3,Bencic earned triple match point,sealing the victory with another backhand winner into the open court.
Swiatek finished the match with an uncharacteristic 36 unforced errors, compared to Bencic’s 10. Now, the pressure shifts to Hubert Hurkacz, who must defeat Stan Wawrinka in men’s singles to force a mixed doubles decider and prevent Poland from falling short in their third straight Un
Did you know? Bencic’s nine-match winning streak at the United Cup is the longest of her career. She has not dropped a set in the tournament, demonstrating her dominance and consistent performance.
Pro tip Players often adjust their strategy after losing the first set. Bencic successfully did this, changing her approach to exploit Swiatek’s weaknesses and regain control of the match.
