SYDNEY, Jan 9 (Reuters) – Iga Swiatek brushed aside Maya Joint and Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski won the mixed doubles as Poland beat hosts Australia 2-1 in the United Cup quarter-finals on Friday, setting up a last-four clash with defending champions the United States.
The teams met in last year’s final and the winners will face Switzerland or Belgium in this year’s decider.
Six-times Grand Slam winner Swiatek beat Joint 6-1 6-1, but Australia fought back as Alex de Minaur overcame Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 4-6 6-4 in the men’s singles match.
“I just had to fight him off from the first point to the last. It was a huge mental effort,” said De Minaur, who saved nine break points to clinch the first set.
“I am glad I was able to bounce back after losing that second set. I had some dark thoughts in my head.”
In the mixed doubles, Kawa and Zielinski clinched a 6-4 6-0 win over Australians Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith.
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
