Former champions USA returned to the final of the United Cup mixed team tournament on Saturday with a lucky victory over the Czech Republic, setting up a title clash with Poland, who defeated Kazakhstan.

Tomas Machac looked set to level the Czechs at 1-1 in the semi-final and was ready to serve against Taylor Fritz, but an apparent cramp took its toll and he lost three games in a row before throwing in the towel 7-6 ( 4), 5-6.

The result gave the Americans an unassailable 2-0 lead that moved them ahead of the mixed doubles in Sydney. “It’s great to be back (in the final). “It was a crazy game, very physically demanding and I guess I didn’t want to win like that,” said Fritz, who helped the USA win the title in 2023.

Coco Gauff got the ball rolling for the US team with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over tricky Karolina Muchova in a rematch of October’s Beijing final, which the American also won. Desirae Krawczyk and Denis Kudla then defeated Gabriela Knutson and Patrik Rikl 7-5, 6-0 in the mixed doubles to complete the USA’s victory.

“It’s never easy against Karolina,” said world No. 3 Gauff, who recovered from a break deep in the second set to win at Ken Rosewall Arena. “I was intense and focused the whole game and I think that made the difference today.”

Last year’s runners-up Poland reached their second consecutive final in the $10 million tournament after Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek won their singles matches in style.

World No. 2 Swiatek settled the tie with a fighting performance against the hard-hitting Elena Rybakina, securing a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win in just over two hours. “I think this was the first time I was able to win against Elena on a faster surface,” said an exhausted Swiatek after an epic battle.

After recovering from an early break, Swiatek missed two set points in a Rybakina serve game that lasted more than 13 minutes. The world number 6 managed to hold but Swiatek was too good in the tiebreak and won the first set after 72 minutes.

Swiatek broke to equalize in the seventh game of the second set and then saved a late break point to seal the 123-minute victory. “It means a lot. “I didn’t have a good start, I felt like I was on the handbrake a bit,” she said afterwards. “I knew I had to do something because this game could go either way. I told myself I wouldn’t miss anything anymore and I’m happy because it’s always tough against Elena.”

Hurkacz had earlier beaten Alexander Shevchenko 6-3, 6-2 in less than an hour, helping his team put a foot in the final. “The last game here gave me a bit of confidence and I played better every single game,” said the world number 16, who beat Billy Harris in the quarter-final win over Great Britain.

Poland, which was eliminated by Germany in the final last year, managed a clean sweep after Maja Chwalinska and Jan Zielinski beat Zhibek Kulambayeva and Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1 in the mixed doubles. The final begins on Sunday.

Sabalenka and Osaka in the final

Aryna Sabalenka She reached the Brisbane International women’s singles final with a 6-3, 6-2 win over teenager Mirra Andreeva on Saturday, moving one step closer to her first trophy of the year before her Australian Open title defense begins this month.

The world No. 1, runner-up at last year’s tournament, saved five break points to win a narrow opening set against her 17-year-old Russian opponent, who had stunned Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the French Open seven months ago.

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Fit and in full form at the start of a new season, Sabalenka shifted gears to an early break in the second set and managed to prepare herself for a meeting with another Russian. Polina Kudermetovain the final on Sunday. The 21-year-old qualifier defeated Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-3 to continue her outstanding run in the tournament.

“For me it’s always the same tactic, staying aggressive and putting my opponents under pressure,” Sabalenka said after her win. “It seemed like everything was working really well. She (Andreeva) is a great player and I’m pretty sure she will be in the top 10 very soon. I’m happy about this win.”

With the gentlemen Reilly Opelka After his stunning victory over Novak Djokovic, he defeated France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-3, 7-6 (4) in a battle against big servers.

The 6-foot-2 American had serious injuries in the previous two seasons and had to overcome a wrist injury to win the first set before managing a tiebreak in the next set and reaching his first final in three years.

Opelka, currently ranked 293rd in the world, will compete Jiri Lehecka in the final. The Czech player advanced when defending champion Grigor Dimitrov withdrew through injury, trailing 6-4, 4-4 at Pat Rafter Arena.

The four-time Grand Slam champion will compete in another warm-up event before the start of the Australian Open on January 12th Naomi Osaka defeated Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final of the Auckland Classic, where she will face Denmark Clara Tauson.

Osaka, who returned to the WTA Tour 12 months ago after a lengthy maternity break, is aiming for her first trophy since her triumph at Melbourne Park four years ago. “I am happy to have reached the final,” said Osaka. “I actually never made it to the final of the tournament in the week before Melbourne. This is a first for me.”

Tauson earlier defeated American Robin Montgomery 6-4, 6-3 after defeating top seed Madison Keys 6-4, 7-6 (7) in a rained-out match broadcast on Friday.