Poland Wins First United Cup After Two Heartbreaking Finals

Third time's the charm proved true for Poland's tennis team Sunday night as they captured their first United Cup championship after heartbreaking losses in 2024 and 2025.

The victory came down to nerve and grit. When star player Iga Swiatek fell to Switzerland's Belinda Bencic in the opening match, Poland faced the pressure of elimination with the score at 1-0.

Hubert Hurkacz answered the call, leveling the final with a win over Stan Wawrinka despite facing nine break points. The three-time Grand Slam champion saved eight of them, firing 18 aces to keep Poland's hopes alive.

That set the stage for Kawa and Zielinski, who had already saved Poland three times this week in deciding matches. The pressure was on, but they delivered when it mattered most, defeating Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3.

The turning point came at 5-4 in the first set. Kawa stepped up to the net on set point and drove home a pivotal volley that swung momentum permanently in Poland's favor.

"I think it always pays off when you're brave on the important points," Kawa told reporters after the match. "It was like instinct decision. I just went for it."

The Ripple Effect

The victory means more than a trophy for Polish tennis. Hurkacz competed just seven months after knee surgery, proving his comeback complete with a 4-1 singles record throughout the tournament.

Kawa and Zielinski's perfect 5-0 doubles record showed that champions aren't always the biggest names. They're the ones who show up when their team needs them most.

Even in defeat, Switzerland celebrated a breakthrough moment. Playing in their first United Cup final, Bencic earned MVP honors with a 9-1 record and collected wins over two top-10 players.

After two years of coming so close, Poland's players finally get to hold the trophy they've been chasing.