Poland’s Swiatek Stuns Badosa to Advance in Billie Jean King Cup Finals
MALAGA, Spain – World No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland delivered a stunning performance on Friday, defeating home favorite Paula Badosa of Spain to secure Poland’s spot in the quarterfinals of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
In a thrilling encounter that lasted over two hours, Swiatek displayed her dominance on the indoor hard court, ultimately prevailing 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1. The victory marked Poland’s first win in the tournament and set up a quarterfinal clash against the Czech Republic.
Badosa, ranked No. 12 in the world, fought valiantly to stay in the match, winning the second-set tiebreaker. However, Swiatek’s resilience and determination proved too much to overcome. The Polish star roared back in the third set, breaking Badosa’s serve twice and securing a decisive 8-3 advantage.
“She pushed me,” Swiatek said after the tie was won 2-0. “There was a lot of pressure in the tiebreaker and it went her way, but I knew I could get back in it in the third set.”
Swiatek’s victory was preceded by a hard-fought win from her teammate Magda Linette, who defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 7-6 (8), 2-6, 6-4. Linette faced a 3-0 deficit in the decisive set but rallied to secure the victory.
The match between Spain and Poland was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed due to heavy rain and flooding in Malaga. The incident highlighted the ongoing concerns about extreme weather events in the region.
Swiatek’s performance in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals has further solidified her status as one of the most formidable players in women’s tennis. The five-time Grand Slam winner is now poised to lead Poland in their quest for a historic title.
