United Cup: Swiatek romps, Tsitsipas loses

Poland’s Iga Swiatek during her win over Norway’s Malene Helgo in Sydney yesterday. Pic/AFP

Iga Swiatek romped to an emphatic victory in her season-opening match at the United Cup Monday, but Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed as Kazakhstan upset Greece to make the knockout round of the mixed-team tournament.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek was on court for the first time since news broke in late November that she served a one-month ban for a doping violation. But the Pole quickly shook off any nerves in Sydney with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Norway's Malene Helgo, needing just 62 minutes for the demolition job. "Pleased with everything, honestly. I'm happy for sure with the performance," said the World No. 2.

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"I feel good, I feel happy, happy I can play tennis overall," she added. "I'm just going step by step and we'll see what's next."

While Swiatek was in electric form, Greek star Tsitsipas had a day to forget. He is coming off a mediocre 2024 in which his ranking dropped to its current 11 from a career-high three and was hoping for a confidence-boosting fresh start in Perth. But he was stunned 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) by 78th-ranked Alexander Shevchenko.

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