The 2024 United Cup is about to decide its champion and it will do so by attracting more attention than last season. The mixed tournament has been of much more interest than in its first year and now Poland and Germany will fight to succeed the United States in a tie where anything can happen.
It is true that the Poles, with Every Swiatek y Hubert Hurkaczstart as favorites, but it is also true that Germany, led by Alexander Zverev and with a Angelique Kerber which has gone from less to more, will not make things easy, especially if they manage to reach the mixed doubles with options, since the Siegemund/Zverev duo understands each other perfectly and has been key for the Teutons to appear in this final.
Throughout the tournament, Poland has shown tremendous superiority over its rivals, with Swiatek achieving full victories – she has only dropped one set – and Hurkacz fulfilling her role perfectly, winning all but one singles match and being lethal when He had to play the mixed doubles. This, added to the longer rest time that the Poles have had, means that they are considered favorites, but obviously they will have to take to the track and manage to take the title.
For their part, Germany has appeared here without being among the big favorites, but the truth is that they have suffered and have achieved three 2-1 victories. That is to say, in all their triumphs they have found themselves on the ropes and have needed mixed doubles. However, despite the fact that they accumulate many more hours on the track than their rivals, they will be able to use this as a double-edged sword, since the Poles have hardly been in compromised situations and so far everything has gone smoothly while the Germans have had to fight against all odds.
Swiatek vs Kerber
The grand final will be opened by the current world number 1 and a former number 1 who returns to the circuit after having become a mother. Logically, Iga is the big favorite to win the match and it will possibly be the most unequal match, a priori. Swiatek has started the year like a shot, but Kerber has not started badly and in the semifinals she achieved her first victory of the season against Tomljanovic, a decisive victory for Germany to have reached this point. Therefore, this match will be a great litmus test for the 35-year-old player, who will be able to see in front of the best tennis player in the world where her level of play is right now.
Hurkacz vs Zverev
If the predictions come true and Swiatek scores the first point for Poland, Sascha will take to the court with the obligation to win to force the mixed doubles. This clash is expected to be very close, with two true hitmen who will not be able to concede anything with their service, since any relaxation can be paid for with a break that costs you the match. Seeing the level of both of them on serve, it is very possible that there will be a tiebreak and it will be key for both of them to be successful in the hot moments. However, looking at the performance of these two men during the week, Zverev seems a slight favorite, especially since he has been seen to be more successful than the rest.
A possible mixed doubles to decide the title
If the third match is tied, everything will be decided in the mixed doubles, the great attraction of this competition. The normal thing there would be for us to see two undefeated couples. On the one hand Swiatek and Hurkacz and on the other Siegemund and Zverev. This possible match would be very exciting and without a clear favorite, since in doubles everything is much more equal and the fact that there is a golden point in the deuce makes it even more unpredictable. Even so, it is clear that because of their names the Polish couple is more scary and if we are fair they have been the rivals to beat throughout the tournament.
With all this it is evident that Poland has more options to win the title, but Germany should not be underestimated, which arrives with nothing to lose and led by two tennis players eager to vindicate themselves and bring joy to their country.
2024-01-06 18:08:38
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