SUMMARY
- Iga Swiatek and Zheng Qinwen's warmup took an unexpected turn at the United Cup, with Swiatek's serve hitting Qinwen unexpectedly.
- Iga Swiatek led Poland to victory over China in the United Cup 2024, securing a semifinal spot with a dominant win over Zheng Qinwen.
At the United Cup 2024, world no. 1 Iga Swiatek and Chinese superstar Zheng Qinwen were seen in a tense exchange during their warmup before the quarterfinal match between Poland and China. The spotlight fell on the duo as Swiatek, while practicing her serve, struck Qinwen, adding an unexpected twist to their pre-game rituals.
Qinwen was caught off guard as she failed to anticipate Swiatek’s serve, resulting in the ball bouncing off her right wrist. However, the situation escalated as Qinwen, visibly affected, gestured towards her right wrist, emphasizing the point of impact. Immediately following the impact, Swiatek, at 22 years old, acknowledged the incident by raising her right hand while collecting another ball.
Swiatek, realizing the need to diffuse the situation, offered an apology through gestures, indicating difficulty in communication across the net because of the noise in the stadium. The incident went viral on social media.
Iga hitting a serve on Zheng during the warmup
byu/noapologiesman intennis
Heading into the match, both competitors boast a flawless 2-0 record in the tournament. However, Swiatek maintains a 4-0 advantage in their head-to-head encounters, with their last encounter in Cincinnati in 2023. It’s worth noting that in three out of the four meetings, the matches extended to the full three-set distance. Can Qinwen reverse her fortunes against Swiatek at the start of the new season?
Iga Swiatek propels Poland to United Cup victory over China
The spotlight at the United Cup 2024 stood brightly on Iga Swiatek as Poland’s tennis sensation led her nation into the semifinals with an unforgiving performance. The top-seeded team, featuring Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz, replicated their success from the previous year at the expense of Team China.
Hubert Hurkacz initiated Poland’s march to victory by executing a flawless performance, securing the initial match with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Zhang Zhizhen. With ten aces and a stronghold in all service games, Hurkacz showcased his prowess, setting the stage for world no. 1 Iga Swiatek against world no. 14 Zheng Qinwen.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek swept past Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday, as top seed Poland beat China to enter the tennis mixed-team United Cup semifinals. https://t.co/yCabSwOnwk pic.twitter.com/CzrDrYu1J7
— China.org.cn (@chinaorgcn) January 4, 2024
The match against Qinwen revealed Swiatek’s exceptional form and class. From a 0-2 deficit, the four-time major champion orchestrated an impressive comeback, stringing together nine consecutive games to seize control. Despite her opponent’s brief resurgence in the second set, Swiatek closed the match with a flourish, claiming the final three games and clinching victory with a commanding scoreline of 6-2, 6-3.
This marked her 14th consecutive win, further establishing her as a force to be reckoned with in the tennis world. With their eyes set on the semifinals and a potential final, Swiatek and Hurkacz’s Polish team eagerly await the outcome between France and Norway. Swiatek’s stellar performances continued to pave the way for 2024 United Cup glory.