The nation claimed a 3-0 win over the Netherlands to finish as Group F winners with a perfect 6-0 match record, becoming the only team to achieve the feat this season at the mixed-teams event.
On Friday, the two-time United Cup finalists will face host country Australia, which topped Group D, finishing with a 2-0 tie score and a 4-2 match record.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz took care of business in singles, while Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski stayed flawless in mixed doubles duty.
Hurkacz opened action at Ken Rosewall Arena, and he came out firing, rushing to take control of the match behind his sharp serve, hitting 20 aces on his way to a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Tallon Griekspoor in 82 minutes.
As a result, the former world No. 6 gave Poland a 1-0 advantage with a place in the last eight on the line.
Currently ranked at world No. 83, the Polish player has made a strong start to the new season, beating No. 3 Alexander Zverev in straight sets, a statement performance in his first match on tour in seven months after undergoing knee surgery.
“Definitely didn’t know how I was going to start the season. I haven’t played for seven months, so you don’t really know what to expect,” he shared after defeating Griekspoor.
“I was playing okay in practice, but practice is so different from the match when you have so many emotions, you have fans around. I’m quite positively surprised and pleased with that performance out there.”
Then, Swiatek clinched the tie against Suzan Lamens in style, producing a consistent display on serve, winning 84 percent of her first serve points to close out 6-3, 6-2 in 72 minutes.
“I’m really happy that I found a way to be more solid in the middle of the first set because it was pretty even until then,” outlined the six-time major champion. “I felt like I had more control over the ball and could go for it. I’m really happy that we won this tie just with singles. It gives us good confidence going into the quarterfinals.”
With the tie in their pockets, Kawa and Zielinski overpowered David Pel and Demi Schuurs 6-3, 3-6, 10-4 in mixed doubles, wrapping up action with a confidence-boosting result.
On a Comeback Road
In 2024, Hurkacz tore the meniscus in his right knee while competing at Wimbledon, requiring surgery, and then facing a challenging recovery process.
Ahead of the 2025 season, the former Miami Open champion appointed Ivan Lendl and Nicolas Massu as his new coaches, stating he was “excited and optimistic for the 2025 season and beyond.”
However, knee issues continued to disrupt his performance, and last July, the 28-year-old underwent an arthroscopic surgery, sidelining him for the remainder of the year.
“During the procedure, the overgrown synovial membrane causing the inflammation, pain, and related issues was removed,” Hurkacz wrote on social media.
“A huge thank you to Dr. Bartlomiej Kacprzak, who performed the surgery,” he stressed.
At the time, he further asserted that he would “only come back when I’m 110 percent ready to compete again,” and judging by his first two matches on tour, he appears to be on the right path.
“After such a long period, you’re just so excited to be out there, and it also gives you a different perspective on things,” he added. “I think that’s why I’m able to perform maybe better and even stay calm in the difficult moments.”
Meanwhile in Perth, the defending champions, Team USA, edged out Greece, becoming the first nation to progress into the 2026 semifinals, following a nail-biting mixed doubles match won by world No. 4 Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
The top seeds will face the winner of the clash between Poland and Australia.
Sydney will also host the semifinals, followed by the United Cup Final on Sunday, 11, 2026.