The 2026 United Cup final took an emotionally charged turn when Iga Świątek was left in tears and vented her frustration by smashing her racket after a dramatic loss to Belinda Bencic. Playing the opening women’s singles rubber of the final, Swiatek let an early lead slip as Bencic surged back to win in three sets, handing Switzerland a crucial advantage.
The scene echoed a familiar script from earlier in the tournament, when Coco Gauff had also halted Swiatek’s momentum in a high-stakes tie.
Iga Świątek’s Emotional Reaction After Three-Set Loss to Belinda Bencic
In the final vs Switzerland, Switzerland’s Bencic upset Świątek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, putting Switzerland ahead. The loss visibly shook Świątek. As the final point ended, cameras captured her approaching her bench in tears before she vented her frustration by smashing her racket on the court. The video of the incident immediately surfaced on X.
😭@iga_swiatek pic.twitter.com/5snZuX5It3
— K (@bethdutton_k) January 11, 2026
As of now, Poland’s men’s singles and potential mixed doubles results to decide the title are in progress, with Hurkacz slated to play Stan Wawrinka.
How Did Team Poland Navigate the 2026 United Cup on the Road to the Final?
Team Poland produced another strong and composed campaign at the 2026 United Cup, reaching the final of the mixed-team event for the third consecutive year, held in Sydney and Perth. Team Poland competed in Group F of the 2026 United Cup in Sydney, with a squad featuring Świątek, Hubert Hurkacz, Katarzyna Kawa, Katarzyna Piter, Jan Zieliński, Daniel Michalski, and Mateusz Terczyński (Captain).
They began strongly against Germany, as Hurkacz defeated Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, and Świątek recovered from a set down to beat Eva Lys 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In mixed doubles, Kawa and Zieliński recorded a 7-6(6), 6-3 win against Laura Siegemund and Zverev to finish 3-0 in the tie.
MORE: Iga Świątek vs Belinda Bencic, Hubert Hurkacz vs Stan Wawrinka: Poland vs Switzerland Preview for United Cup 2026 Final
Poland’s second group tie was against the Netherlands, where Hurkacz beat Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 7-6(4), and Świątek followed with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Suzan Lamens. In the mixed doubles, Kawa and Zieliński won 6-3, 3-6, [10-4] against Demi Schuurs and David Pel to seal another 3-0 victory.
In the quarterfinals vs Australia, Hurkacz was edged by Alex de Minaur 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, but Świątek dominated Maya Joint 6-1, 6-1 to level the tie. The mixed doubles pair of Kawa and Zieliński then defeated Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith 6-4, 6-0 to clinch the tie 2-1 for Poland.
The semifinal against the United States featured Hurkacz beating Taylor Fritz 7-6(1), 7-6(2) before Świątek lost to Gauff 4-6, 2-6. The semifinals against the United States brought the first crack in Swiatek’s armor. Once again, the mixed doubles decider was crucial: Kawa and Zieliński beat Gauff and Christian Harrison 7-6(5), 7-6(3) to secure a 2-1 win and send Poland into their third consecutive final.