Nineteen-year-old Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova produced the first Top 10 upset of the Australian Open  ending No. 10 seed Belinda Bencic’s 12-match winning streak with a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 victory.

Playing in her first Grand Slam main draw, Bartunkova produced a dazzling display of tennis inspired by Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz.

This time last year, Bartunkova was ranked No. 493, but today she played like a veteran hitting 40 winners, compared to Bencic’s 25..

It was a major setback for current Olympic Champion Bencic, who arrived in Melbourne having posted  a 5-0  record, including United Cup wins over Iga Swiatek and Jasmine Paolini.

Bartunkova won eight of the last nine points to score her second career Top 50 victory in two hours, 12-minutes.

“It’s a dream come true, because it was an unbelievable match from me,” Bartunkova said afterwards.

The Czech teenager will  next play  21st-seeded Elise Mertens, a former AO doubles champion, for a place in the fourth round.

Fellow Czech teenager Tereza Valentova, 18, also won and will take on Elena Rybakina in the third round.

Main photo:- Nikola Bartunkova celebrates shock win – by ISF Ltd

Poland raced ahead with two quick service breaks in the opening set of mixed doubles to set up a first-ever United Cup title with a 2-1 defeat of Switzerland in the Sunday final.

Victory in Sydney wrapped up the 18-nation mixed team event, a prime tuneup for the Australian Open which begins in six days.

Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski completed the job for the Poles, defeating Belinda Bencic and Jakub Paul 6-4, 6-3 in the deciding rubber.

Bencic, who won her first nine singles and doubles matches at the event, shocked world No. 2 Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. 

But Hubert Hurkacz, playing his first event since July Knee surgery, levelled for Poland as he held off three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Bencic stood 1-5 against Swiatek coming into the match.

“It’s always a challenge playing her, I have to look for ways to improve every time.

“Today I was on from the first point, playing great even if I was 3-0 down. I waited for some chances and hoped her focus would go down.

“I’m happy I stayed in the second set and put the pressure on,” she said before winning the most valuable player award for the tournament.

Hurkacz knew he had defeated a legend with his win over the 40-year-old Wawrinka who is playing in his 20th and final season.

“Stan is an inspiration from when I was growing up. His game is really powerful. He’s a smart player.”

The Pole broke for 3-1 in the third set to get a grip on victory. and finished with an ace on match point.

“I knew I was catching him towards the end. I needed to raise my serve.”

The Poles clinched the trophy playing a third final after losses to Germany (2024) and the US 12 months ago.

“Finally we made it,” Swiatek said. “Third time lucky – but not lucky, we worked really hard.”

Bencic said the Swiss were experiencing “so many emotions. Poland deserved it, you literally served us away.

“It’s so bittersweet, but we can be proud of ourselves. This has been one of the best weeks of my life.”

Main photo:- Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski Team Poland celebrate winning the mixed doubles final match between Switzerland and Poland at the United Cup by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/James Gourley

Belinda Bencic remained untouchable with a perfect 8-0 record in United Cup play at this edition as she sent Switzerland on Saturday into a first-ever final at the mixed team event.

The WTA No. 11 combined in the deciding mixed doubles with debutant Jakub Paul to put the finishing touches on a 2-1 defeat of Belgium, with the pair posting a 6-3, 0-6, 10-5 fin in the deciding rubber in Sydney.

Switzerland will line up Sunday night against Poland, which tipped the defending champion United States 2-1 as Katarzyna Kawa and Jan Zielinski combined for a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) defeat of Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison in the mixed rubber.

Poland has reached the final for a fourth straight year but will face a huge test against the Swiss

“It should be great matches all around,” Zielinski said seconds after a Harrison return sailed wide on match point.

“Stan (Wawrinka) is a legend in our sport, one of my childhood idols. It will be a privilege to face him (from the bench).

“In a final anything can happen, I just hope we show our best tennis.”

Gauff started strong for the holders, defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek for a fourth consecutive time to claim the first point 6-4, 6-2 for the US.

Hubi Hurkacz, who underwent knee surgery in July and had not played a match before the tournament start nine days ago, beat Taylor Fritz with 16 aces for a 7-6 (1), 7-6 (2) victory to level, setting the stage for the mixed doubles triumph . 

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Bencic, whose 21-month old daughter Bella has served as something of an unofficial mascot for the Swiss team, headed by 40-year-old Stan Wawrnka, started the semi-final tie with a winning third-set tiebreaker over Els Mertens 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0).

Wawrinka, playing in his 25th and final ATP season and recipient of an Australian Open wild card, has served as playing coach all week. 

He was unable to get past Belgian breakout Zizou Bergs, who won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to knot the tie at a win apiece.

“Stan played really well and I really had to battle it out today,” Bergs said. “It was hard to control the ball on return.

It was very hard for me. To get rhythm is very tough. I’m just happy I found the solution.”

Bencic and Paul broke it open though as the pair sprinted to mixed doubles success.

“The team spirit is amazing and it starts with the captain (Wawrinka) ,” Bencic 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. 

“It starts with him but then with all the energy from our bench it gives us such a spirit to win.”

The 81st-ranked Paul, who won just six doubles matches last season, echoed those sentiments.

“It’s easy to find the energy with this team. It’s great to play with Belinda. Hats off to her to play for almost three hours and then come out for the doubles. 

“And great job by Stan to keep Zizou as long as possible on the court.”