The United States won the United Cup in 2023 and Poland finished runner-up in 2024, so it’s no surprise to see them back in the final to begin this 2025 campaign. A showdown between Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff headlines the action.
Iga Swiatek (POL) vs. Coco Gauff (USA)
Swiatek and Gauff will be facing each other for the 14th time in their careers when they clash in the United Cup final between Poland and the United States on Sunday in Sydney. The head-to-head series stands at 11-2 in favor of Swiatek, who has earned all 11 of her victories over Gauff in straight sets. If there is any good news for the American, it’s that she won their most recent encounter 6-3, 6-4 at the WTA Finals this past fall.
Swiatek was a shadow of her real self at the time (now we know that a doping suspension was on the immediate horizon), she seems to be back in business at the start of this season. The world No. 1 is 4-0 so far at the United Cup and 8-1 in total sets after scoring an impressive 7-6(5), 6-4 win over Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. Gauff has not dropped a single set this week, beating Leylah Fernandez, Donna Vekic, Shuai Zhang, and Karolina Muchova. Unfortunately for the 20-year-old, Gauff is a whole different beast–on that has given her all kinds of problems in the past.
Pick: Swiatek in 2
Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Taylor Fritz (USA)
Fritz opened with a three-set loss to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, but the world No. 4 has since restored order to the proceedings. He made quick work of Borna Coric Zhizhen Zhang in his other round-robin matches and was in a dogfight with a red-hot Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic on Saturday when Machac retired because of cramps.
Up next for Fritz is a sixth showdown against Hurkacz, who trails the head-to-head series 3-2. They squared off just once in 2024, when Fritz prevailed 7-6(2), 6-4 on the red clay of the Madrid Masters. Hurkacz was injured for the home stretch of last year and he has been mediocre at the United Cup, losing to Machac and Casper Ruud while posting victories over Billy Harris and Alexander Shevchenko. The world No. 16 can be competitive if he serves well, but Fritz should have the edge in this one.
Pick: Fritz in 3
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🥰🥳Tennis!
The TDC brackets for ATP and WTA tournaments starting on January 6 are still open. The next one I do will be AO!
I’m cheering for team Poland later, as usual.