Hubert Hurkacz delivered the shock of the day, dismantling world No. 3 Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4 at the United Cup to help secure Poland's advancement. Meanwhile in Brisbane, Daniil Medvedev opened his 2026 campaign with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over Marton Fucsovics. Jiri Lehecka survived a three-set battle against compatriot Tomas Machac, while upsets continued with Quentin Halys stunning home favorite Alexei Popyrin in three sets.
Hurkacz shocks Zverev in straight sets
In the biggest upset of the day, world No. 73 Hurkacz dismantled Zverev with a clinical display of power serving and aggressive returning. The Polish best player in ATP history fired 21 aces while winning 85% of his first serve points, never allowing the German to settle into his rhythm. Hurkacz saved the only break point he faced while converting two of his three opportunities against the world No. 3. The comprehensive nature of the victory - achieved in just over an hour - sent shockwaves through the United Cup and provided crucial momentum for Poland's campaign. It was an exceptionally crucial day for Hurkacz who struggled with an ongoing knee injury for months and his comeback to competition after being since June last year could not went any better than that. Iga Swiatek has followed Hurkacz's path, overcoming Eva Lys from a set down to secure the victory of team Poland - a revenge for the tight loss in United Cup final from 2024.
Medvedev cruises in Brisbane opener
The former world No. 1 wasted little time dispatching Fucsovics in his season opener, needing just 73 minutes to secure his spot in the second round. Medvedev converted six of his ten break point opportunities while maintaining a solid 79% win rate on his first serve. Though he faced some early pressure, saving two of four break points, the Russian's superior court craft and tactical awareness proved decisive. His ability to construct points and force errors from the Hungarian demonstrated the form that could make him a factor at the upcoming Australian Open. Medvedev will face Frances Tiafoe next in what promises to be a significantly sterner test of his early-season conditioning and competitive sharpness.
Czech clash goes the distance
Lehecka emerged victorious from an all-Czech battle that saw both players display moments of brilliance across two hours and 22 minutes. The world No. 17 dominated the tiebreak 7-5 after losing a tight second set, then controlled the decider with superior depth and consistency. Lehecka's eight aces and perfect break point defense (saving both opportunities) ultimately proved decisive against his compatriot. The victory extends Lehecka's solid hard court form and sets up an intriguing second-round encounter. Machac, despite the loss, showed positive signs in his return to action and will take confidence from pushing the higher-ranked player to three competitive sets on the Brisbane hard courts.
Halys completes comeback against Popyrin
In another significant upset, the world No. 91 Frenchman recovered from a set down to eliminate the Australian hope in front of his home crowd. Halys dominated with his serve, winning an impressive 90% of his first serve points and blasting 15 aces past the former top-25 player. After dropping the opening set 5-7, the Frenchman found another gear, breaking twice while converting two of his five break point chances. Popyrin, who reached career-high rankings in 2024, struggled to handle Halys' aggressive serving patterns and consistent groundstroke depth. The victory represents a significant confidence boost for Halys as he looks to build momentum in the early weeks of the season.
The day's results set up compelling second-round matchups in Brisbane, while Poland's United Cup campaign gains serious momentum following Hurkacz's statement victory. Medvedev's dominant display suggests he's ready to challenge for major honors once again in 2026 after a very promising remainder of a difficult 2025.