Iga Swiatek crushes Spain and leads Poland to quarterfinals at the United Cup

Iga Swiatek hardly needs any help, it appears. After Hubert Hurkacz struggled again in his second match at the United Cup, Poland needed Swiatek to wield her magic once again to push Poland into the quarterfinals at the United Cup. The WTA No. 1 not only then defeated Spain once but twice, and neither match was close.

Just as Novak Djokovic does for Serbia, Swiatek gives Poland a good chance against any other country at the United Cup. The unique mixed-gender event means that even if a team has a dominant women's player or a dominant men's player, that does not mean that team will win their tie. At least, that theory holds for every other country other than Poland and Serbia.

Swiatek and Djokovic are simply too good. And Swiatek wiped away Spain with ease on Monday.

Iga Swiatek swipes about Spain and moves Poland forward

Hurkacz needs to pull his weight a bit, though. After struggling against Thiago Seyboth Wild for Brazil in Poland's first tie of the United Cup, Hurkacz didn't do his part to help Poland against Spain. Hurkacz lost to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 3-6 6-3 6-4. Hurkacz's serve should have been enough to overpower the Spaniard but even that failed Hurkacz.

This meant Iga Swiatek had to win her singles match and then play mixed doubles with Hurkacz to move Poland forward. Swiatek defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 6-1 as Swiatek never gave Sorribes Tormo a chance. The two places have now met three times and Swiatek has won all three times and has lost a total of 12 games and hasn't come close to dropping a set.

But while Swiatek was dominant in her singles match, she and Hurkacz were even more so against Davidovich Fokina and Sorribes Tormo in doubles. The Polish team whitewashed Spain winning 6-0 6-0. Poland could end up playing Spain again in the quarterfinals at the United Cup if Spain finishes as the best runner-up in the three groups. But Spain having any chance of beating Swiatek seems unlikely.

Read more from Lob and Smash