World No 1 Iga Swiatek pulled off a magnificent shot around the net and then proceeded to ask Roger Federer for his approval. On Sunday, Swiatek and fellow Pole Hubert Hurkacz met Zhibek Kulambayeva and Grigoriy Lomakin of Kazakhstan in an United Cup mixed doubles match.
Midway through the first set, Swiatek capped off a long rally with a stunning around-the-net winner. During his Laver Cup farewell, the great Federer managed to literally hit through the net shot. “Do you approve @rogerfederer,” Swiatek tweeted.
Do you approve @rogerfederer?🫣 https://t.co/VIgCx7gNn6 — Iga Świątek (@iga_swiatek) January 1, 2023
Swiatek, Hurkacz give Poland win
Swiatek and Hurkacz entered their mixed doubles match as the strong favorites to win the match.
In the end, they claimed a routine 6-3 6-4 win over Kulumbayeva and Lomakin. The first break of the match was seen in the sixth game of the first set, when Swiatek hit that around-the-net shot. But after claiming the first break of the match, Swiatek and Hurkacz got broken back immediately in the following game as Kulumbayeva and Lomakin broke back to cut the deficit to 4-3.
However, blowing an early break didn’t impact Swiatek and Hurkacz, who claimed their second break in the eighth game to go 5-3 up. In the ninth game, Swiatek and Hurkacz served out for the first set. After winning the first set, Swiatek and Hurkacz claimed the first break of the second set in the third game.
In the seventh game, Swiatek and Hurkacz had a chance to go up by a double-break but they missed out on three break points. In the ninth game, Swiatek and Hurkacz had three match points on Kulumbayeva and Lomakin’s serve but didn’t realize.
Swiatek and Hurkacz maybe missed out on three match points in the ninth game but they made sure to convert their fourth match point on their serve in the 10th game. Previously, Swiatek defeated Yulia Putintseva in singles, while Hurkacz beat Alexander Bublik.
In the end, Swiatek and Hurkacz helped Poland seal a 4-1 win over Kazakhstan in their United Cup opener. In their next match, Poland plays Switzerland. Swiatek is scheduled to play Belinda Bencic in her next match.
