Kazakhstan has advanced to the United Cup mixed teams tennis tournament semifinals with an unassailable 2-0 lead over a German team playing without the injured world No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev.

World No.2 Iga Swiatek notched a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4 victory over the Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova at the United Cup in Sydney on New Year’s Day and Poland secured a 2-1 victory to finish atop Group B.

Iga Swiatek has made a lightning start to her 2025 season after annihilating Norway's Malene Helgo at the United Cup 6-1 6-0 in just over an hour of play. Going into the match, the five-time Grand Slam champion was considered the massive favorite to beat the 404th-ranked Norwegian tennis player.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek was on court for the first time since she served a one-month ban for a doping violation. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Kazakhstan has advanced to the United Cup mixed teams tennis tournament semifinals with an unassailable 2-0 lead over a German team playing without the injured world No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev.

No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev withdrew from the United Cup mixed teams tennis tournament on Wednesday with a biceps strain less than two weeks from the start of the Australian Open

Germany's world number two Alexander Zverev pulled out of the United Cup on Wednesday with a bicep strain barely a week away from the Australian Open.

World No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev, 27, who won his opening two singles matches of the season, withdrew from the United Cup mixed teams tennis tournament on Wednesday with a biceps strain less than two weeks from the start of the Australian Open.

World No.2 Alexander Zverev won't play in Germany's quarter-final clash with Kazakhstan at the United Cup due to a biceps injury.