Swiatek helps Poland knock out hosts Spain within the Billie Jean King Cup Finals

MALAGA, Spain — Poland’s Iga Swiatek beat Spain’s Paula Badosa to say the Billie Jean King Cup Finals title within the opening spherical on Friday, whereas Britain knocked out Germany.

World No. 2 Swiatek sealed Poland’s place within the quarterfinals towards the Czech Republic after beating No. 12 Badosa 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1 on a robust indoor court docket.

Badosa stopped coming again into the match by successful the second breaker. However Swiatek roared again with a dominant third set and an 8-3 break benefit.

The match was delayed in direction of the top of the third set on account of what the organizers known as a “medical incident” apparently among the many spectators inside Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes.

“He pushed me,” mentioned Swiatek after the sport was received 2-0. “There was loads of strain within the tiebreaker and it went his method, however I knew I might get again into it within the third set.”

He emphasised the significance of Magda Linette’s opening win on this sport.

“We each did it, together with the entire Polish crew,” mentioned the five-time Grand Slam winner after making his BJK Finals debut.

Linette took virtually 4 to place down Sara Sorribes 7-6 (8), 2-6, 6-4.

Linette confronted a 3-0 deficit within the last set however rallied and completed off Sorribes. Linette hit a number of winners, 55-12, whereas committing 79 unforced errors to Sorribes’ 26.

The match between Spain and Poland was scheduled for Wednesday however was postponed for 2 days on account of heavy rain in southern Spain which brought about flooding in Malaga. Authorities in Spain are on excessive alert after torrential floods killed greater than 200 individuals final month.

Britain advances on Germany

Emma Raducanu gave Britain the lead by hitting 10 aces in a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jule Neimeier, who harm her trigger with 9 double faults.

Katie Boulter then brushed apart Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-2 to finish the Brits’ victory.

Britain will face defending champions Canada within the quarterfinals.

On Thursday, Slovakia defeated America, whereas Japan defeated Romania.

Nadal is coaching for his Davis Cup farewell

The BJK Cup Finals and the Davis Cup Finals happen on the identical venue within the southern Spanish metropolis.

Rafael Nadal skilled on Friday for the boys’s event that begins subsequent week, which he mentioned can be his final event earlier than he retires.

It’s the first time that the ladies’s crew event is held on the identical venue because the Davis Cup and on the corresponding dates. And for the second 12 months in a row, it would provide equal prize cash within the males’s competitors.