Poland is often mentioned as one of the favorites for this United Cup. They’ll start their campaign against Norway, which lost 1-2 to Czechia. To keep themselves alive, the Norwegian team will need a strong performance from their leader, Casper Ruud. Polish duo of Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz led their country to the United Cup final last year, can they go a step further this time?
United Cup Day 4 Predictions
Iga Swiatek vs Malene Helgo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Malene Helgo played some great matches at the United Cup last year, coming close against Caroline Garcia and Donna Vekic. The Norwegian can clearly produce inspired performances for her country, but here she’ll need a godsend. At the Billie Jean King Cup finals recently, Swiatek showed how much these team competitions mean for her and she’s got far too much quality to get involved in any prolonged struggle with Helgo here.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Hubert Hurkacz vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: Ruud 2-1
Hubert Hurkacz was still struggling with the knee injury that hampered him throughout the latter half of the previous season when we last saw him play. But with the Pole spending the off-season under the guidance of Nicolas Massu and Ivan Lendl, it’s fair to assume he’ll have prepared a solid level for the start of 2025. He defeated Casper Ruud in their only hard-court meeting and the Norwegian is coming off an attritional encounter with Tomas Machac, which seems to have taken a lot out of him.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 3
Iga Swiatek/Hubert Hurkacz vs Casper Ruud/Ulrike Eikkeri
Head-to-head: First meeting
Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz had a perfect record in this competition as a pair, before their lack of doubles pedigree kind of got exposed by Laura Siegemund in last year’s final. But Hurkacz’s big serve can be a game-changer and Swiatek recently showed she’s still got the moves in her Billie Jean King Cup finals doubles appearances. Casper Ruud and Ulrike Eikkeri are not to be underestimated, but Swiatek/Hurkacz likely won’t take that long to find their chemistry again.
Prediction: Swiatek/Hurkacz in 3
