Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz have suffered their first defeat as a mixed doubles team against Laura Siegemund and Alexander Zverev.
Following Swiatek’s singles win over Angelique Kerber and Zverev’s over Hurkacz, the final between Poland and Germany had to be decided in a mixed doubles match. Going into the match, Swiatek and Hurkacz were regarded as the slight favorites versus Siegemund and Zverev. But Siegemund and Zverev delivered a great performance to upset Swiatek and Hurkacz 6-4 5-7 10-4 and seal the United Cup title for Germany.
Before losing to Siegemund and Zverev, Swiatek and Hurkacz had four straight-set wins as a pair.
How Zverev/Siegemund defeated Swiatek/Hurkacz?
Siegemund and Zverev got off to a very good start, breaking Swiatek and Hurkacz in the third game. Down by an early break, Swiatek and Hurkacz had a chance to get the break back instantly but they didn’t convert a break point in the fourth game.
In the fifth game, Siegemund and Zverev had a chance to go up by a double-break but they missed out on two break points. However, the one break of serve was already enough for them as Siegemund and Zverev served out for the first set in the 10th game.
Swiatek and Hurkacz bounced back at the start of the second set, earning their first break of the match for an early 3-0 lead. Swiatek and Hurkacz got broken back in the fifth game but they went up by a break again in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead.
Just when it seemed the set would be soon over, Swiatek and Hurkacz missed out on a set point in the ninth game and two more set points on Siegemund and Zverev’s service in the 10th game. Luckily for Swiatek and Hurkacz, they were to keep their focus and serve out the 11th game for a 6-5 lead before breaking Siegemund and Zverev in the 12th game – the game in which they were serving to stay in the second set.
But after winning a tight second set, Swiatek and Hurkacz’s games collapsed as Siegemund and Zverev started the match tie-break with a 3-0 lead before also opening a 6-1 lead. Leading 9-4, Siegemund and Zverev converted their first match point to seal a win over Swiatek and Hurkacz and give Germany the 2024 United Cup title.
