Poland’s march into the 2026 United Cup semifinals felt less like a routine victory and more like the unfolding of a well-scripted saga - one driven by grit, redemption, and, at the center of it all, Iga Swiatek. Under the bright lights of Perth, the Polish contingent delivered a 2-1 triumph over host nation Australia, booking their place in the last four for the fourth straight year. It was Swiatek who set the tone early, and in doing so, added yet another feather to her illustrious cap.

With 12 straight-set singles wins at the United Cup - more than any player in the event’s history - the world number 2 continues to look unstoppable. What’s more, she has now reached the semifinals in her last six events representing Poland, a testament to her reliability and dominance on the national stage.

The QF tie began with Iga Swiatek walking onto the court with a familiar calmness, almost as if she knew exactly how the evening would play out. Facing Australian teenager Maya Joint, Swiatek delivered a masterclass - an authoritative 6-1, 6-1 victory that took just 57 minutes. Joint managed to hold serve for a brief 1-0 lead, but from here, the match belonged entirely to the Polish star.

Six straight games flew by in a blur of precision, angles, and court coverage that left the home crowd stunned and the Polish fans chanting, “Iga! Iga!” with swelling pride. Her cross-court forehand winner on set point - zipping past the Aussie at a speed that left no room for reaction - summed up the tone of the evening.

“I had a clear plan of what I wanted to do. I just focused on that. Wanted to be intensive from the beginning, put pressure on Maya, and it worked. Every ball mattered. I didn't want to give any free points. I also kind of felt the court a bit better than the last two matches and used of the opportunities that I had,” said Iga Swiatek.

After Swiatek gave Poland an early 1-0 lead, Australia’s Alex de Minaur pulled one back against Hubert Hurkacz to level it at 1-1. But later on in the mixed doubles match, Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski took down Storm Hunter and John-Patrick Smith to win the tie by a 2-1 margin. On Saturday, Iga Swiatek and her team will take on Coco Gauff’s America in the SF. What did the Pole say about that exciting battle?

Iga Swiatek shares her thoughts about the blockbuster clash against America’s Coco Gauff

Iga Swiatek walked off the court after dismantling Maya Joint, wearing the same composed smile she always does. But her words afterward brought laughter to the room. “That was 20 years of world,” she joked, referring to her commanding performance. It was vintage Swiatek: self-aware, humorous, and quietly confident.

But as soon as the press shifted the conversation toward the semifinal, her tone grew focused. Because waiting for her next is none other than Coco Gauff, the American star who has become a central figure in Swiatek’s narrative over the past few months. Although Swiatek has an 11-4 edge over the American, Coco Gauff has gotten the better of the Pole in the last three meetings.

Their last United Cup encounter came in the 2025 final, where Gauff stunned Swiatek with a clean 6-4, 6-4 victory. It was a loss that stung, especially with the title on the line, and one that Taylor Fritz later cemented by defeating Hubert Hurkacz to seal the championship.

Since then, the two have crossed paths again - Gauff claiming another win at the Madrid Open. Now, Iga Swiatek has a chance at revenge, and she didn’t hide her thoughts about the coming challenge in her post-match reflections. 

“Well, honestly, I had no idea we were playing [the] US… I’m going to prepare the plan tomorrow. For sure, it’s a good match, like exciting for the fans, I think. But I’ll focus on my singles. Obviously, we know each other’s game pretty well with Coco. The key for me will be just to focus on myself, try to implement the stuff that I worked on during the pre-season, and be brave with the decisions. Yeah, we’ll see.”

The familiarity between the two rivals is extensive. They’ve played numerous high-stakes matches - including deep at Slams, big finals, and now on national team stages. “We played so many matches with Coco that I don’t really, like, look at the previous ones so much. Like, if I would have to do that every time, I would be thinking for a long time because we played many matches against each other,” she added.

With their contrasting styles - Gauff’s athletic explosiveness against Swiatek’s heavy topspin and precision - every encounter unfolds like a tactical chess match. But Iga Swiatek also acknowledged the lingering disappointment of last year’s defeat in the same interview.

“But yeah, honestly, after last year’s tournament, I didn’t really analyze this match that much. I was already kind of focused on [the] Australian Open. For sure, I’m going to sit with Wim [Fissette] tomorrow, and he will watch it, and he will give me the tips.”

As Poland and the United States prepare for another high-voltage showdown, the Swiatek-Gauff rivalry once again takes center stage. One is the defending champion, the other is chasing redemption. Who do you think will have the last laugh this time?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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