A few times a year the double aces also come into their own. Just like in the past few days at the United Cup.
von Jens Huiber
last edited: January 11, 2026, 8:15 p.m
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Every now and then it’s nice when the double aces are really in the spotlight. That was already the case at the US Open last year, when no one really knew how the early and shortened mixed competition would work. Overall, with a gap of a few months, it can be said: pretty good.
Tennis fans have known that mixed doubles can bring joy since Roger Federer and Serena Williams met at the Holman Cup. Where nothing other than honor was at stake. And the anticipation was still great.
The last few days at the United Cup have shown that when served in small doses, the mixed can have great entertainment value. And that the “real” experts have an advantage. Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski, who won all the matches for Poland and ultimately took the title, concentrate exclusively on pair skating in their professional lives. And they also beat Alexander Zverev and Laura Siegemund. The latter is a luminary in doubles, Zverev is not. Which is why you can ask why Kevin Krawietz didn’t play alongside Siegemund.
Bencic takes 500 WTA points
Switzerland was somehow right in the middle of it all, Jakub Paul hasn’t torn up any trees on the ATP tour, but played consistently well in the duet with Belinda Bencic. Bencic himself was outstanding in the singles and took a total of 500 points from the United Cup for the WTA charts. And she has already won two doubles titles in her career.
In the final, however, it was the specialists (even if neither Kawa nor Zielinski are among the world’s best) who were able to hold their own. Which doesn’t speak against the Swiss at all, as they haven’t built a valid alternative to the pair. But every now and then it’s nice to see that expertise pays off. Just like a few months ago at the US Open, where the mixed title went to Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori again despite the participation of many individual stars.
