Swiss Unknown Jakub Paul Wins 4 Straight Mixed Doubles at United Cup

Sometimes the most beautiful stories in sports come from the most unexpected places. At the 2026 United Cup in Sydney, a little-known Swiss tennis player named Jakub Paul has become the tournament's most delightful surprise, proving that when opportunity knocks, magic can happen.

The 26-year-old from Chur, Switzerland, wasn't even sure he'd step onto the court when the tournament began. With veteran Stan Wawrinka initially slated for mixed doubles duty, Paul figured he might be watching from the sidelines. But when Wawrinka needed rest after grueling three-hour singles marathons, the door opened for Paul to partner with Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.

What happened next has been nothing short of remarkable. Paul and Bencic have won all four of their mixed doubles matches, including three decisive rubbers that sent Switzerland advancing through the tournament. Now they're headed to their first United Cup final, and Paul is still pinching himself.

"For me, it's still surreal," Paul shared after their semi-final victory over Belgium's Zizou Bergs and Elise Mertens. "I can't really believe that we are in the final yet because I don't think anyone expected this."

What makes Paul's performance even more inspiring is how he's approached the challenge. Rather than being intimidated by facing Grand Slam champions across the net, he's played with remarkable fearlessness, poaching confidently at the net and making bold strategic moves that have paid off beautifully.

Bencic, despite her own impressive resume, has been Paul's biggest cheerleader. "It's just amazing to see him play and how brave he is," she said with genuine admiration. The partnership works because of trust. "When Belinda tells me to go, I just go," Paul explained with a smile.

Paul's journey to this moment began like many tennis stories do, with a young boy tagging along with his father and older brother to the local club. When his talent became evident, he made the difficult decision at age 13 to move three hours away to an academy, living in dorms and only seeing his family on weekends. "I don't really like change and at 13 I didn't want to move out from home," he admitted, "but after a couple of months I managed it well and really liked it."

That dedication caught the attention of someone special. After Paul qualified for the US Open boys' event at 18 and won two rounds, Swiss legend Roger Federer took notice and invited him to practice. The encouragement from his country's greatest player clearly made an impression.

Why This Inspires

Jakub Paul's United Cup journey reminds us that preparation meets opportunity in the most wonderful ways. Currently ranked 341st in singles and 81st in doubles, Paul faces tough choices about his career path, juggling between pursuing singles dreams and capitalizing on doubles success. Like many athletes outside the spotlight, he's honest about the reality: "In the end I have to pay my bills."

But for now, none of that matters. What matters is that a young player who stayed ready got his chance and seized it with both hands. As Switzerland prepares for the final, Paul embodies the beautiful unpredictability of sports, where belief, courage, and a little bit of trust can turn an unknown into a national hero.

"These are the moments I practise for," Paul said. And aren't we all grateful he did?