Switzerland Surges to the Davis Cup Semifinals in Perth, Snapping Argentina's Run
7 January 2026
Semifinal Bound: Swiss Duo Shines in Perth
In Perth, Belinda Bencic and her partner Jakub Paul steered Switzerland to the Davis Cup semifinals by defeating Argentina’s Maria Lourdes Carlé and Guido Andreozzi 6-3, 6-3 in the decisive mixed doubles at RAC Arena.
Earlier in the day, Argentina’s Sebastian Baez preserved his perfect start to the season by beating veteran Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 6-4 to level the tie at 1-1, after Bencic had given Switzerland the lead with a straightforward 6-2, 6-2 win over Solana Sierra.
Under pressure, the Swiss duo delivered an exceptional performance to clinch their third straight mixed doubles win of the week. They controlled a 68-minute contest at RAC Arena, thanks to precise shotmaking and tight net play, and celebrated with a leap into the air amid the stadium’s festive atmosphere.
Baez had earlier defeated Wawrinka, underscoring the Argentine’s strong week after his victory over Taylor Fritz in the group stage. He saved all five break points he faced and forced the former world No. 3 into errors with his heavy groundstrokes.
This marks only the second time in Baez’s career that he has posted three wins at a single hard-court event (after Winston-Salem 2023).
Meanwhile, Bencic, 28, continued a strong start to 2026, recording her third straight singles win of the week. Returning from maternity leave in late 2024, she has risen from world No. 421 in January to No. 11 today, aided by titles in Abu Dhabi and Tokyo and a Wimbledon semifinal run.
Switzerland now heads to Sydney for the semifinal on Saturday, January 10, to meet the winner of Belgium vs Czech Republic, scheduled for Thursday.
What’s next for Switzerland?
Switzerland will face either Belgium or the Czech Republic in Sydney, aiming to book a place in the Davis Cup final.
Punchline 1: If precision had a badge, these Swiss players would wear it—every shot lands like a sniper’s heartbeat on the line.
Punchline 2: They say the only thing sharper than their serves is their sense of humor—this is tennis, folks, and it’s a surgical strike, not a friendly ping-pong match.
