United Cup 2025: Katie Boulter emerges full of credit despite Great Britain losing to Poland in Quarter-Finals

Poland secured the win in the 2025 United Cup earlier on Thursday afternoon as they saw off Great Britain. One tie stood out in particular and it was more the loser than the winner that emerged full of credit being Katie Boulter as she lost narrowly 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 in favour of the former World No.1.

Swiatek prevailed in an epic contest but Boulter came close to the biggest win of her career thus far. The World No.2 was pushed to the limit in a near three hour contest in Sydney.

The turning point in fact was in the third set with Boulter leading 2-1 and a break up. Swiatek headed to the physio room for a medical time-out and appeared to be in discomfort so Boulter would've sensed an opportunity.

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But Swiatek regained composure just in time to break Boulter's serve to love on her return akin to those thinking they can beat Novak Djokovic when he goes off court injured, she came back and dismissed the challenge.

Although Boulter had a break point at 4-4, it did little to dent Swiatek's resolve who just about got the better of her in their first ever meeting. It also shows how far the World No.24 has come from being unable to get near the big names to battling the WTA Queen for the past few years to her limit.

“The match was crazy, like so many changes of momentum,” Swiatek said in her on-court interview.

“I thought I had it under control in the first set, but I got tight and I didn’t want to make the same mistakes in the third.

“It’s hard to be precise under so much pressure, but I made it and it’s a step forward.”

Not injured and playing some of the best tennis of her career, Boulter can hold her head high. But it wasn't enough as Billy Harris earlier was beaten by Hubert Hurkacz who showed his class 7-6, 7-5 in one hour and 45 minutes.

It went to the dead rubber mixed doubles as Olivia Nicholls and Charles Broom lost to Maja Chwalinska and Jan Zielinski 6-2 7-6 (3) to make it 3-0 albeit of course this didn't tell the full story and Great Britain will be pleased with a great Quarter-Final run.

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