Poland have taken a 1-0 lead in the 2024
United Cup final and who else to lead from the front but
Iga Swiatek after seeing off
Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-0 to start their tie against Germany. It continues a wonderful start to the year for the World No.1 who has barely put a foot wrong in the United Cup.
Swiatek and Kerber was a hotly anticipated clash between the current and former World No.1's and also the first test really for Kerber against a top five player since her return aside from Maria Sakkari on the periphery of that and it was very much to the Swiatek script as she brushed her aside.
Now it will be up to Hubert Hurkacz to attempt to finish the job against Alexander Zverev or we will again have mixed doubles which will likely see the two singles forces from Poland team up once more.
Swiatek finished the week undefeated in singles and arrives at the Australian Open on 9800 points in a week that saw Aryna Sabalenka make the Brisbane final, Elena Rybakina win the tournament and Coco Gauff win Auckland. So all three chasing Swiatek themselves have had good weeks.
The first set in the Kerber tie was fairly even as again Swiatek started slowly. Kerber had break-point chances to make it 3-2 and Swiatek 3-3 but both held firm. This was the case until 5-3 as despite having three chances to seal it, Swiatek finally claimed a break to go one away from the set which she served out.
From there, she blew Kerber away in just over 20 minutes for the second set. It was another bagel as Kerber registered minimal points behind the Swiatek serve and was given a welcome back by the current WTA leader. Kerber ends the week in singles with some positive signs as she heads to Adelaide, but with a sole win against Ajla Tomljanovic and now a good gauge where she is against the very best.