Swiss Trailblazer: Bencic Sends Switzerland to Its First United Cup Final in a Sun-Baked Sydney Showdown
10 January 2026
Semifinal drama under the Sydney sun
Belinda Bencic led Switzerland to its first-ever United Cup final, delivering a heroic performance under the Sydney sun against Belgium. The scene felt electric as fans followed every serve and return, with the crowd buzzing at the prospect of a historical step forward for Swiss tennis.
She survived a tense moment in the third set of the singles opener against Elise Mertens, saving a break point and bending but not breaking, then paired with Jakob Paul to seal the result in the decisive mixed doubles against Mertens and Zizou Bergs, 6-3, 0-6, 10-5. The win came after the Swiss duo steadied themselves following a mid-match wobble in the second set, when they managed just 12 points and looked briefly vulnerable.
Bencic, 28, completed a perfect run of eight wins across the event (4 singles, 4 doubles). Her partner Jakob Paul, world No. 81 in doubles, also stepped up with clutch shots that helped swing the energy back in their favor.
As a result, Switzerland will meet the winner of the USA versus Poland semifinal in Sunday's final at Ken Rosewall Arena.
Earlier, Bergs forced a deciding set after a grueling victory over veteran Stan Wawrinka, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, on a day that reached 41 degrees. Bergs’s consistency and nerve under the furnace-like conditions kept Belgium alive in the encounter.
Bergs said after the match that Stan had played brilliantly and that he had to fight hard; it's very tough to find a rhythm against his serve.
In their opener, Bencic extended her undefeated streak this season by defeating Elise Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead.
Bencic added: 'It felt like 170 kilograms had been lifted off my shoulders. I was extremely nervous and didn't want to let my team down'.
Switzerland’s fans are already dreaming of a first United Cup title.
Punchline 1: If her serves get any hotter, we might need sunscreen for the ball. Punchline 2: Switzerland just filed a heat advisory for the Ken Rosewall Arena—aces incoming, heat waves optional.
