federation cup
Bencic beats Swiss Swiatek on edge of Confederations Cup
Wawrinka will face Hurkac next
January 11, 2026
2026 Getty Images
Belinda Bencic defeated Iga Swiatek at the 2026 Fed Cup to improve to 5-0 in singles.
Author: ATP/WTA Staff
Belinda Bencic’s unbeaten run continues. The Swiss No. 1 won her country’s first Fed Cup title after a come-from-behind victory over Poland’s Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. She currently has a 9-0 record in tournaments with five wins in singles matches.
Hubert Hulkáz must beat Stan Wawrinka in the men’s singles to reach the mixed doubles and avoid Poland’s third consecutive Fed Cup final defeat.
“Playing against her is always a challenge and every time I play against her I look for ways to improve and make her life more difficult,” Bencic said on court. “I think the difference today was I was playing very freely, I was really enjoying myself on the court and I was working really hard.”
Bencic has won 12 of her last 15 matches, her second win against the world No.2. The opening set looked set to go to Swiatek, but the pendulum soon swung the momentum in Bencic’s favour.
Swiatek started strong early, holding serve for four points in the first set, then broke serve first and held serve again. With Swiatek leading 3-0, Bencic entered the match, winning two consecutive games and narrowing the gap to 3-2 after winning a backhand at the third break point.
The world No. 2 eventually won three of the next four games, including twice breaking Bencic’s serve to close out the set. Swiatek won the set 6-3, hitting a cross-court backhand winner that the Swiss couldn’t reach.
In the second set, however, Bencic dominated. Bencic scored nine consecutive points in the second set and saved two break points in the third game. In the next game, she won a crucial break opportunity at her third opportunity and completed the set in 33 minutes.
“Honestly, I felt like I was part of the game from the beginning,” Bencic said. “I thought I was going to do well, but I was down 0-3. I thought ‘OK, what am I going to do.'” I guess I just tried to stay level and wait for some opportunities. “
After holding serve for three consecutive games, the third game began and Bencic reached a turning point. Setting up the break point with a powerful forehand, she seized the key point and returned Swiatek’s serve with a convincing backhand winner. Swiatek fought until the last point, held serve in two games, and saved two match points with a pair of aces. But when Swiatek trailed 5-3, uncharacteristically committing 36 unforced errors to her opponent’s 10, Bencic won three match points and sealed the match with a backhand winner.
