AAP Tennis

Poland bar way to Australia retaining Davis Cup status

Feb 13, 2026

Hubert Hurkacz could be a significant threat to Australia in September's Davis Cup tie. -AAP Image

Australia will need to defeat Poland if they are to retain their place at the Davis Cup top table as Lleyton Hewitt's charges seek to recover from their recent loss to Ecuador.

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That ended any ambition to win their first title since 2003 - instead the target is a win over the Poles to ensure they enter the 2027 qualifiers.

Another defeat would drop Australia into next year's world group play-offs.

Australia, who were the top-seeded team when the draw was made in London for the world group I ties, will have home advantage when the tie is played in mid-September.

As usual in Davis Cup it may come down to who is available. Australia were severely weakened against Ecuador with neither Alex de Minaur nor Alexei Popyrin up for selection.

Poland do not have any players in the top-50 but could put out two solid singles players with differing career trajectories.

Hubert Hurkacz is now ranked 70 but was as high as sixth 18 months ago. Kamil Majchrzak, though two years older at 30, is currently enjoying his highest ranking, placing 55th in the world.

However, neither played when they lost to Great Britain in September, which meant they had to contest a play-off match with Georgia earlier this month.

Majchrzak was back for that tie, with Maks Kasnikowski (ranked 419) the other starting singles player, but Olaf Pieczkowski (507) and Tomasz Berkieta (525) had played against GB.

Hurkacz did play for Poland in January's United Cup, in which Poland beat Switzerland in the Sydney final, but in that mixed competiton they can call upon women's star Iga Swiatek.