Switzerland is headed to its first United Cup final, a landmark moment delivered through grit, heat-hardened focus, and a fearless mixed doubles closer. In a 2-1 semifinal win over Belgium in Sydney, 28-year-old Belinda Bencic won a three-hour singles epic, then returned to court to seal the tie alongside Jakub Paul in a match tiebreak. On Sunday at Ken Rosewall Arena, the Swiss will face the winner of the United States vs. Poland for the title.

This run is more than a result. It is a story of leadership, belief, and a team squeezing every last point out of a scorching week where temperatures crossed 100°F (41°C). It is also a story of a Swiss underdog who keeps showing up when the tie hangs in the balance.

Bencic’s nerve in the Sydney heat

In the opening singles, Bencic outlasted Elise Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(0) in oppressive conditions. The match turned on one small, brave choice: serving at 30-30 while trailing 6-5 in the third set, Bencic switched to a freshly strung racquet. From there, she reeled off the final nine points, including a perfect 7-0 tiebreak. It was calm decision-making in chaos.

“I think today was really overcoming myself,” Bencic admitted afterward. She said the semifinal felt strange, almost like a first-round match due to a venue change mid-event. “I think I was just a little bit off maybe for the whole match with myself, with my thoughts.” Off or not, she found a way. That is what elite players do.

The victory kept Bencic’s tournament record spotless at 8-0, with four wins in singles and four more in mixed doubles. She is the Swiss engine right now, competing in every possible rubber and winning them all.

“Switzerland doesn’t win this without Bencic’s nerve in the heat.”

Jakub Paul’s Cinderella surge in mixed doubles

Then came the closer. After Zizou Bergs won a gritty three-setter over Stan Wawrinka to level the tie, the mixed doubles decided everything. Bencic and 26-year-old Jakub Paul handled the swingy momentum best, beating Bergs and Mertens 6-3, 0-6, 10-5. One confident sprint, one stumble, one cool finish.

Paul’s week has been the tournament’s Cinderella arc. Ranked No. 81 in doubles and No. 341 in singles in the PIF ATP Rankings, he was not even penciled in to play mixed doubles early in the event. But when Wawrinka opted out of early doubles due to back-to-back three-hour singles efforts, Paul stepped in and never blinked. He is 4-0 in mixed doubles this week, with three of those wins coming in the deciding rubber.

“For me, it’s still surreal,” Paul said. “I can’t really believe that we are in the final yet because I don’t think anyone expected this… But these are the moments I practise for. We knew mixed doubles was always going to be important and Stan gave me the chance to play. So I felt I had to really be ready, give my best. Of course, I never expected to win all those four matches. Now that we’re in the final, we want to give everything and let’s go for the title.”

That belief has shown up against proven champions. Paul has stood toe-to-toe with Grand Slam-winning doubles threats such as Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Andrea Vavassori during this run and refused to back off. He is balancing a career choice too: chase Tour-level doubles opportunities or keep building his singles ranking through Challengers. He logged six tour-level doubles wins in 2025, but his singles ceiling still tempts. For now, the team needs him, and he keeps delivering.

“Jakub Paul is the United Cup’s Cinderella we didn’t see coming.”

Wawrinka’s leadership frames the tie

Results will show that Wawrinka’s singles loss brought Belgium level. The full story shows how his presence still shaped the outcome. Bencic praised the captain’s energy throughout. “The team spirit is amazing and it starts with the captain (Stan Wawrinka),” she said. “He’s supporting all throughout my match and then he goes out to play his own match and then he’s back to support the doubles.”

Paul echoed it: “It’s easy to find the energy with this team… Great job by Stan to keep Zizou as long as possible on the court.” In his 25th and final season before retirement, Wawrinka is setting tone and trust. That counts, especially in mixed doubles where communication and tempo shifts come fast.

“Stan’s leadership is the glue — even when he loses, he wins the day.”

How Switzerland handled the pressure points

What separated Switzerland from Belgium? The Swiss owned the biggest points.

• Bencic’s racquet switch and nine-point sprint to a 7-0 tiebreak sealed a brutal singles in record heat.
• In the mixed doubles match tiebreak, Bencic and Paul simplified patterns, found first serves, and attacked the middle, a classic safe-and-smart play in pressure moments.
• Team energy mattered. Bencic spoke of the bench’s support. That cohesion carried over into the decider, when nerves usually rule.

It is also worth noting that Bencic, a new mom to 21-month-old daughter Bella, has built a steady, resilient base since returning. Matching that with Paul’s hunger created a pairing that handles swings well. Belgium’s clean 6-0 second set in mixed doubles could have rattled the Swiss. It didn’t.

The Sydney backdrop: a heatwave and a test of will

Saturday’s semifinal unfolded under a severe heat warning, with on-court temperatures topping 41°C (over 100°F). That environment tests not just skill but choices: hydration, between-point routines, even equipment. Bencic’s racquet change was more than a quirk; it was a reset button in a match where small edges decide everything.

In heat, mixed doubles also becomes a mental test. The format is fast. No-ad points and match tiebreaks amplify stress. Switzerland managed those beats better, again.

What’s next: United States or Poland in the final

The Swiss will meet either the defending champion United States or Poland for the title. The U.S. has won two of the last three editions of the event. Poland reached the final in both 2024 and 2025 and knows this stage well. Either way, Switzerland will not be favored on paper. But this team has already crushed the paper.

Paul summed up the mood best: now that they are here, they want the title. Bencic’s form, his poise in the deciders, and Wawrinka’s lead-by-example approach give Switzerland a real shot on Sunday.

Why this run matters for Swiss tennis

This is not just about a trophy chance. It is about identity. Switzerland’s first United Cup final shows how a team can build a result from different pieces: a star who wins everything in front of her, a veteran captain who sets standards, and an unexpected hero who keeps slamming the door.

It also shows the value of mixed doubles on the world stage. Nations that trust their pairings, invest in chemistry, and practice clutch patterns keep winning. Switzerland has leaned into the format, and it has paid off.

On Sunday in Sydney, they will try to take one last step, against a heavyweight in form. Win or lose, they have already made history. But right now, with Bencic unbeaten and Paul unshaken, history does not feel finished.

Final semifinal score: Switzerland 2, Belgium 1. Singles: Bencic d. Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(0). Mixed doubles: Bencic/Paul d. Bergs/Mertens 6-3, 0-6, 10-5. Wawrinka fell to Bergs in three sets. Final set for Sunday at Ken Rosewall Arena.