Iga Swiatek reveals what she told Katie Boulter at the net after beating her in thriller at the United Cup

Iga Swiatek and Poland advanced to the semi-finals of the United Cup for the third consecutive season.

The season-opening United Cup has been a fan favorite since it’s introduction in 2023, and this year’s edition has already provided some thrilling entertainment.

Swiatek became the most successful player in United Cup history earlier this week, as she won her tenth singles match at the competition, a number that she has since added to.

After Hubert Hurkacz gave Poland a 1-0 lead in their quarter-final tie with Team GB, Swiatek beat Katie Boulter in a ‘classic’ to secure her nation’s place in the last four.

Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

Less than a week into the ‘2025’ season, the pair played their part in producing a contest that will no doubt be up for ‘match of the year’ consideration in December.

A stunning performance by both players that saw the pair embrace after the match, with Swiatek now revealing what she told Boulter at the net.

Iga Swiatek told Katie Boulter that their United Cup clash was a ‘great match’ at the net after winning in three sets

Speaking following her three-set victory over Boulter, the Polish number one told fans what she said to the British star at the net.

“Well, I said, you know, that it was a great show and great match,” said Swiatek.

“I wouldn’t say it was long.”

Swiatek also spoke to the WTA number 24 at her team bench, but preferred not to reveal the contents of that conversation.

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“Well, I’ll keep it private,” she said.

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She went on to explain how she struggled tactically at times during her match against Boulter.

“Honestly, the tactics was the same throughout the whole match, but sometimes I just didn’t do it how I should,” said Swiatek.

“So I guess I just need to be like consequent and stay solid in the important moments.

“Well, I think it was kind of obvious what we both needed to do, but still, we played so well that sometimes it was just hard to do that, or we had moments, I think both of us, where we kind of stuffed our hand a bit because it was tight and it was hard.”

Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images

The Pole did, however, make a small adjustment that helped her come out on top.

“So, yeah, tactics, I wasn’t, like, I tried to do the same stuff, you know, throughout the whole match, but sometimes I didn’t,” she said.

“At the end, you know, I just kept trusting it and just going more, like, bravely for some shots, because for sure when I gave Katie [Boulter] a little bit of time she always used it and always stepped forward.”

Will it be third time lucky for Poland at the United Cup in 2025?

With her win over Boulter, Swiatek secured Poland their spot in the last four, with Kazakhstan up next on January 4.

The result makes Poland the only nation to have reached the semi-finals on all three occasions, although they’ll be hoping that this year they go one better.

2023 United Cup SF – Poland lose 5-0 to the United States

Having got the better of Kazakhstan, Switzerland, and Italy, Poland found themselves in the last four of the first-ever United Cup.

A tough tie against the United States awaited, with Taylor Fritz, Jessica Pegula, and Frances Tiafoe leading the line.

Things got off to the worst possible start, as Swiatek lost her opener to Pegula, before Tiafoe and Fritz helped secure Team USA their place in the final.

2024 United Cup F – Poland lose 2-1 to Germany

With defending champions Team USA knocked out in the group stages, 2024 saw a golden opportunity for Poland to pick up the United Cup trophy.

They lost just one match on their way to the final, where they came up against the Germans, led by Alexander Zverev.

This time Swiatek set the tone in the best possible way, as she took down Angelique Kerber in straight sets to put her country a win away from victory.

When Hurkacz took the first set in his match against Zverev it looked like they were finally going to get it done, before the German battled back, taking the second set in a tiebreaker before coming through with the win 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.

It all came down to the mixed doubles, with Swiatek and Hurkacz facing off against Zverev and Laura Siegemund, but it wasn’t to be for Poland as they lost the deciding match tiebreak.

Maybe this year will be Poland’s year, but they’ll face a tough test against Kazakhstan on January 4, before they can start thinking about another United Cup final.

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