Iga Swiatek Wins United Cup Opener After Ban

Iga Swiatek made a triumphant return to the tennis court at the United Cup, marking her first match since serving a one-month ban for a doping violation, by decisively beating Norway's Malene Helgo 6-1, 6-0. The five-time Grand Slam champion expressed satisfaction with her performance, emphasizing the challenges of representing her country. In contrast, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas faced an upset, losing to 78th-ranked Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 7-6, continuing his struggles after a drop in ranking. Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina advanced to the knockout stage by defeating Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3, showing resilience after a shaky start. Rybakina's victory contributed to Kazakhstan's success in the mixed-team tournament, reflecting a strong team effort. The tournament highlighted the shifting dynamics in international tennis as players like Swiatek and Rybakina shine while others like Tsitsipas struggle.