Katie Boulter came heartbreakingly close to an upset against Iga Swiatek, a five-time Grand Slam champion, but her loss ended Great Britain’s hopes of reaching the United Cup semi-finals.
The 28-year-old Briton needed a victory to force a deciding doubles match but fell 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 to world number two Swiatek in a thrilling encounter in Sydney.
After nearly three hours of high-quality tennis, both players shared a warm embrace at the net. “I’m exhausted. I’m happy I won so I didn’t have to play the doubles,” Swiatek admitted. “This match was so crazy, there were so many changes of momentum.”
Britain’s Tough Battles Against Poland
Boulter’s match followed Billy Harris’s narrow defeat to Hubert Hurkacz, the former world number six. Harris, 29, pushed the 16th-ranked Pole to his limits before losing 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 in the opening singles match of the best-of-three tie.
With Poland, one of the tournament favorites, advancing to face Kazakhstan in the semi-finals, Britain’s journey came to an end despite spirited performances.
Boulter Shines Despite Narrow Defeat
Boulter, riding high after the best season of her career, had been a key player for Britain in this mixed-gender event. She secured crucial victories in the group stage against Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska and Australia’s Olivia Gadecki, leading her team to the quarter-finals.
Against Swiatek, Boulter faced her toughest challenge yet. Swiatek’s dominant start, racing to a 4-1 lead in the first set, suggested a straightforward victory. However, Boulter rallied impressively, using her powerful baseline play to match Swiatek’s intensity and force a tiebreak, which she clinched.
The second set saw Swiatek regain control, neutralizing Boulter’s power with loopier, tactical returns and leveling the match. Momentum shifted again in the decider as Boulter broke Swiatek early. However, a medical timeout for Swiatek disrupted the Briton’s rhythm, and her 2-1 lead turned into a 3-2 deficit.
Despite having chances late in the set, Boulter could not capitalize, and Swiatek secured a crucial break to seal the victory. Swiatek celebrated with visible relief, throwing her racquet into the air.
Harris’s Brave Effort Falls Short
Billy Harris, a rising star at 29, showed his growth by competing well against Hurkacz. With regular British team members Jack Draper injured and Cameron Norrie playing in Hong Kong, Harris stepped up as Britain’s top male player.
Though he served strongly, Harris struggled to break Hurkacz, whose experience and quality proved decisive in key moments.
More Disappointment for British Tennis
Elsewhere, Jodie Burrage missed an opportunity to reach the quarter-finals at the WTA event in Auckland. The 25-year-old Briton held a match point against Hailey Baptiste but ultimately lost 5-7 7-5 7-6 (8-6).
Burrage, who missed much of last season due to wrist and ankle injuries, had entered the Auckland main draw as a lucky loser. Despite the loss, her performances provided valuable momentum as she heads to the Australian Open, playing under an injury-protected ranking.