The mixed doubles team formed by Dominic Thiem and Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova claimed a 32-25 win for the Hawks in the World Tennis League in Dubai after beating Holger Rune and Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles match.
This year’s Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beat three-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 6-3 6-1 at in the women’s singles match.
Swiatek beat all three opponents she faced in group stage matches without dropping a set in the round-robin group.
The Hawks nominated Rybakina rather than Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova for the final.
Rybakina started the match with an early break. She faced three break points in the first three games and held serve for 3-0. Swiatek broke back to win three consecutive games and drew level to 3-3. Rybakina scored another three-game winning streak to close out the first set 6-3 with an ace.
Rybakina hit three aces and broke Swiatek three times. She held her serve every single time to seal the second set 6-1 after 2 hours and 2 minutes. Rybakina earned the Hawks a 13-4 lead over the Kites.
Felix Auger Aliassime of the Kites cruised past Alexander Zverev of the Hawks 6-4 6-3 in the men’s singles match. As Zverev was serving at 4-4 40-30, Auger Aliassime hit a drop-shot to level the game and broke serve with a volley on the deciding point.
Both players went on serve until the 10th game of the first set when Auger Aliassime earned the first break to close out the first set 6-4. The Canadian player remained in control of the second set and broke serve to close out the second set 6-3. The Hawks narrowly led 19-16 with a win over the Kites.
Dominic Thiem and Anastasya Pavlyuchenkova beat Holger Rune and Sania Mirza 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the mixed doubles match.
Both teams traded breaks twice in the first set en route to the tie-break. As Thiem was serving in the first set at 4-5 15-30, he chased down a lob, and hit a forehand crosscourt passing shot. The set was decided by a tie-break where Thiem and Pavlyuchenkova prevailed 7-4.
Thiem and Pavlyuchenkova earned an early break in the second set. Thiem hit a service winner down the t line, as he was serving at 5-3 40-15, to close out the match.
