Iga Świątek delivered an impressive performance at the United Cup in Sydney, marking her return to competitive tennis after a one-month doping suspension. Świątek, the world number two, dominated Malene Helgø with a decisive 6-1, 6-0 victory in just under an hour, securing Poland’s lead in their tie against Norway. She subsequently teamed up with Jan Zieliński to win the crucial mixed doubles match, ensuring a 2-1 victory for Poland.
Casper Ruud had previously leveled the tie for Norway by defeating Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 6-3 in the men’s singles. The United Cup match was Świątek’s first since her suspension for testing positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance she ingested unintentionally while treating jet lag. Despite criticism from players like Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, Świątek remained unfazed, showcasing her prowess by defeating Helgø in an emphatic fashion, breaking her serve five times and landing 24 winners.
Świątek shared her delight with her performance and expressed how playing for her country boosts her morale and energy. Poland is now positioned as a strong contender to advance from their group in the tournament. Elsewhere, Great Britain and Kazakhstan also recorded victories, with Great Britain’s Katie Boulter and Charles Broom sealing a 2-1 win over Argentina, and Kazakhstan securing quarterfinals spot with victories in their singles matches against Greece.
