At two of the first three United Cups, the U.S. dashed Poland’s hopes of standing on top.
Come Saturday, Poland will get another crack at the American squad after ending Australia’s bid.
In a rare winner-take-all mixed doubles match that did not feature Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski rose to the occasion in securing a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith. Kawa and Zielinski had previously won a pair of dead rubbers against Germany and the Netherlands during Group F action.
Swiatek raced to the finish line to kick off the tie by dispatching 19-year-old Maya Joint, 6-1, 6-1. The world No. 2 converted five of her eight break chances en route to closing out a 57-minute victory.
“I had a clear plan of what I wanted to do. I just focused on that,” Swiatek told press. “Wanted to be intensive from the beginning, put pressure on Maya, and it worked.”
Home favorite Alex de MInaur gave locals hope when he held off Hurkacz, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to level the scoreboard, before the No. 9-seeded nation regrouped to claim the quarterfinal battle.