Switzerland Reaches United Cup Final
Switzerland made history by reaching its first United Cup final, thanks to Belinda Bencic’s outstanding performance against Belgium in challenging conditions in Sydney. Bencic now boasts an undefeated tournament record of 8-0, with four singles and four mixed doubles victories alongside Jakub Paul.
Decisive Matches
Bencic set the tone for Switzerland by defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0). She then paired with Paul to secure the victory in mixed doubles, overcoming Mertens and Zizou Bergs with a score of 6-3, 0-6, [10-5], in a tense deciding match.
Team Spirit and Support
Regarding Paul, Bencic remarked, “He’s so brave it’s unbelievable. I tell him to go for it and he actually goes. It’s crazy.” She also praised the team spirit, highlighting that support from captain Stan Wawrinka and the energy from their bench contributed to their success.
Awaiting the Opponent
Switzerland will face either the United States or Poland in the final. Regardless, Bencic is set to compete against a top-five opponent, either No. 2 Iga Swiatek or No. 4 Coco Gauff.
Match Duration and Performance
Bencic battled Mertens for 2 hours and 37 minutes, putting Switzerland ahead 1-0 in the semifinals. Although Mertens had previously defeated Bencic in 2021, this time Bencic entered the match in excellent form, having a 6-0 record in earlier ties.
Dramatic Third Set
After initially leading, Bencic faced a challenging third set where Mertens fought back from 3-1 down. However, Bencic rallied to win the final nine points, securing her victory with a last-minute decision to switch to a freshly-strung racquet.
Reflections on the Match
Bencic expressed her feelings post-match, stating, “Today was really about overcoming myself… it felt a bit like a first-round match again.” She emphasized her relief and happiness at navigating nerves to achieve a win.
