Belgium has achieved a remarkable victory in the United Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals after a stunning 3-0 sweep of second-seeded Canada in Sydney. This unexpected triumph was bolstered by impressive singles performances from both Zizou Bergs and Elise Mertens, who each secured crucial wins. The duo then joined forces to clinch the mixed doubles match against Cleeve Harper and Victoria Mboko, with a final score of 6-3, 3-6, 10-5.
Bergs reflected on the team’s achievement, stating, “We had to beat some big players today and a big tennis country. We small Belgians, we are so proud of each other today what we did as a team, especially after a rough first encounter with China.” This victory follows Belgium’s earlier loss to China, heightening the stakes as the team entered their match against Canada, aware that a clean sweep was their only path to group victory.
Strong performances characterized the day at Ken Rosewall Arena. Bergs delivered a shocking upset against world No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime, winning 6-4, 6-2, marking the biggest victory of his career. He noted, “I actually forgot this was my second top-10 win, so that’s really huge, especially with a convincing way of playing.” Mertens followed this with a hard-fought win against the talented teenager Mboko, defeating her 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to secure the tie for Belgium.
This victory allows Belgium to progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face Czechia, who qualified as the best runners-up from the three Sydney groups. Czechia’s advancement comes despite a recent 2-1 loss to Australia. Other quarter-final matchups have also been established, with Switzerland set to meet Argentina and the USA scheduled to play against Greece.
Australia’s team, led by Alex de Minaur, is looking to maintain momentum after securing a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Czechia. De Minaur expressed confidence in his team’s prospects, stating, “We’re definitely going to compete. We’re going to try our hardest and we’re playing out at home, so hopefully we’ll put on a show for the crowd.”
As the tournament progresses, Australia is anticipated to face Poland in their next match, pending the outcome of Iga Swiatek‘s team against the Netherlands. The excitement surrounding the United Cup continues to build, with fans eagerly awaiting the upcoming matches.
