Swiatek opens 2025 season by leading Poland to United Cup victory over Norway
The world No 2 won both her matches to secure an opening win for Poland against the Norwegians in the United Cup
Iga Swiatek United Cup 2023 / Crédit : Zuma, Panoramic
Iga Swiatek has kicked off her 2025 campaign with a pair of fine wins for Poland to ensure they begin their United Cup with a group-stage victory over Norway.
The Pole had an eventful end to her previous season, with news of a one-month suspension after testing positive for the heart medication trimetazidine coming hot on the heels of parting company with former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Now under the tutelage of Belgian Wim Fissette, Swiatek has put last season’s controversies behind her to open up her 2025 with an impressive win over Malene Helgo, beating the 25-year-old Norwegian 6-1, 6-0 to move Poland into a 1-0 lead.
After being pegged back by Casper Ruud‘s 7-5, 6-3 win over Hubert Hurkacz, Swiatek then doubled up to deliver a deserved victory for Poland, partnering Jan Zielinksi in a 6-3, 0-6, 10-8 win over Ruud and Elkeri.
kazakhstan top group c with dominant victory over greece in perth
Meanwhile, over in Perth, Kazakhstan topped their group in dominant style with a commanding victory over an under-par Greece.
First Elena Rybakina beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3, before a disappointing Stefanos Tsitsipas fell to a 6-4, 7-6 (0) loss to Alexander Shevchenko. The Kazakhs then completed a whitewash victory with a final win in the doubles to progress in the last eight of the United Cup as winners of Group C.
Despite defeat today, Greece can still progress should they finish as one of the best second-placed teams.
The United Cup brings together 18 teams divided into six groups: A, C, E are played in Perth; B, D, F in Sydney. The winners of each group as well as the best runner-up from each city qualify for the quarter-finals.
