Polish tennis players defeated the Czechs 2:1 in the quarterfinals of the Billie Jean King Cup final tournament in Malaga. The Polish team’s advancement was decided by the doubles victory of Iga Świątek and Katarzyna Kawa over Marie Bouzkova and Katerina Siniakova 6:2, 6:4.
The match began with Magdalena Fręch losing to Bouzkova 1:6, 6:4, 4:6. Świątek equalized with a 7:6 (7-4), 4:6, 7:5 win over Linda Noskova.
In doubles, the Czechs were the favorites. Siniakova is the current leader in the world doubles ranking. In this specialty, she has nine Grand Slam titles and a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo (2021). In July, in Paris, she won gold in the mixed doubles.
Up until the score of 2:2 in the first set, both pairs won their service games. Later, however, the Polish women started playing brilliantly. Świątek, although she has not played doubles since the 2022 season, has the 2021 French Open doubles final under her belt. Kawa also played the match of her life.
The white and reds won eight games in a row. As a result, they won the first set 6:2, and in the second they were already leading 4:0. At that moment, they had a slight crisis and the Czechs equalized at 4:4, but Świątek and Kawa did not allow their opponents to do more. First, they won a game when the vice-leader of the ranking was serving, and then they broke the Czechs when Bouzkova was serving.
“It was incredible, I haven’t played doubles for a long time. I’ll probably feel dead in 20 minutes, but if necessary, I’ll play doubles in the semifinals again, because it’s my last tournament this year,” Świątek said in an interview on the court.
Although the competition with the Czechs began on Saturday, it ended on Sunday, November 17, the day of Kawa’s 32nd birthday.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of a better gift. Playing with Iga and winning is a great way to start the day,” said Kawa.
Since 2011, the Czech women have won the tournament six times, and 11 times in history, including Czechoslovakia’s victories. Only the Americans are more successful, with 18 victories.
“After these two days I feel 20 years older, but winning against the Czechs is something great,” admitted national team captain Dawid Celt.
The Polish team won 2-0 against the Spanish team in the first round. In Monday’s semi-final they will play against the Italian team, who defeated the Japanese team 2-1.
The remaining quarterfinals will be played on Sunday, with defending champion Canada taking on Great Britain and Australia taking on Slovakia.
Formerly known as the Fed Cup, the name of the competition was changed to the Billie Jean King Cup in 2020 to honour the American, a 12-time Grand Slam winner who was on the winning U.S. team in the inaugural team competition in 1963.
Results and program of the BJKC 2024 final tournament: 1st round: November 14, Thursday Japan - Romania 2:1 Nao Hibino - Ana Bogdan 2:6, 4:6 Ena Shibahara - Jaqueline Cristian 6:4, 7:6 (7-2) Shuko Aoyama, Eri Hozumi - Monica Niculescu, Elena Ruse 6:1, 7:5 Slovakia - USA 2:1 Renata Jamrichova - Taylor Townsend 5:7, 4:6 Rebecca Sramkova - Danielle Collins 6:2, 7:5 Viktoria Hruncakova, Tereza Mihalikova - Townsend, Ashlyn Krueger 6:3, 3:6, 10-8 November 15, Friday Poland - Spain 2:0 Magda Linette - Sara Sorribes-Tormo 7:6 (8-6), 2:6, 6:4 Iga Świątek - Paula Badosa 6:3, 6:7 (5-7), 6:1 Great Britain - Germany 2-0 Emma Raducanu - Jule Niemeier 6:4, 6:4 Katie Boulter - Laura Siegemund 6:1, 6:2 quarterfinals: November 16, Saturday Italy - Japan 2:1 Jasmine Paolini - Moyuka Uchijima 6:3, 6:4 Elisabetta Cocciaretto - Ena Shibahara 6:3, 4:6, 4:6 Jasmine Paolini, Sara Errani - Shuko Aoyama, Eri Hozumi 6:3, 6:4 Poland - Czech Republic 2:1 Magdalena Fręch - Marie Bouzkova 1:6, 6:4, 4:6 Iga Świątek - Linda Noskova 7:6 (7-4), 4:6, 7:5 Iga Świątek, Katarzyna Kawa - Marie Bouzkova, Katerina Siniakova 6:2, 6:4 November 17, Sunday Canada - Great Britain Australia - Slovakia semi-finals: November 18, Monday Poland - Italy November 19, Tuesday Canada/UK - Australia/Slovakia November 20, Wednesday - final
