Tennis

Poland's Swiatek Stuns Badosa to Advance in Billie Jean King Cup FinalsMALAGA, 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.

The United States' hopes of winning the Billie Jean King Cup Finals were dashed in the opening round as Slovakia pulled off a stunning upset in a thrilling doubles match that ended close to 1 a.m. Friday.Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova sealed the victory for Slovakia in Malaga, Spain, with a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, [10-8] win over Ashlyn Krueger and Taylor Townsend. The American duo fought valiantly, saving six match points before the Slovaks finally clinched the win on their seventh attempt.The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with the Slovaks racing out to a 9-2 lead in the match tiebreak. However, Krueger and Townsend refused to give up, battling back to close the gap. In the end, it was Mihalikova who put away an overhead off Krueger's short return to secure the victory."It was not the first time that we went on the deciding doubles together. We wanted to win so, so much," Hruncakova said after the match. "We gave everything we have. I just have no words right now."The day had started promisingly for the United States, with Townsend securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Renata Jamrichova. However, Danielle Collins was unable to follow suit, falling to Rebecca Sramkova 6-2, 7-5. Sramkova's impressive performance, which included a 20 winners to 16 unforced errors ratio, proved too much for Collins.Townsend, who recently finished runner-up in doubles at the WTA Finals with Katerina Siniakova, was unable to inspire her team to victory. The United States, who last won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2017, will now have to wait another year for a chance to reclaim the trophy.

The Billie Jean King Cup Finals, the pinnacle of women's tennis, will be exclusively broadcast live and on-demand on Tennis Channel, T2, and their digital platforms from November 13-20. This year's event will determine the world's top tennis nation.The tournament features 12 countries competing in a single-elimination format. Each head-to-head battle consists of two singles matches and a doubles contest, with each match worth one point. The country that wins two matches advances to the next round.The United States, led by Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport, is among the favorites. The Americans have won the cup a record 18 times and will face Slovakia on November 14. Other top-ranked players competing include Iga Swiatek (Poland) and Jasmine Paolini (Italy).Tennis Channel's coverage will feature Hall of Famers Tracy Austin, Pam Shriver, Chanda Rubin, and Shelby Rogers. The network's app and website will provide live and on-demand streaming of all matches.The Billie Jean King Cup Finals is a showcase of the world's best women's tennis players. With its intense competition and thrilling matches, it promises to be an unforgettable event.

The Davis Cup Finals and Billie Jean King Cup Finals are set to take place in Malaga, Spain, with the United States fielding strong teams in both competitions.Bob Bryan, captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, believes his squad has a legitimate chance to win the title. With three Top 25 singles players (Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Ben Shelton) and the Olympic silver medalists in doubles (Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram), the Americans have a formidable lineup. However, they face a tough first-round opponent in Australia, who boasts Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, and Matthew Ebden.Lindsay Davenport, captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team, is also optimistic about her team's chances. While they will be without some top players like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, they have a solid lineup that includes Danielle Collins, Peyton Stearns, and Ashlyn Krueger. They will open their campaign against Slovakia in the round of 16.Both Bryan and Davenport acknowledge the challenges of playing in a neutral venue without the home-court advantage. However, they believe their teams have the depth and experience to overcome these obstacles.Bryan praised the current generation of American tennis players, highlighting their depth and versatility. He also expressed gratitude to the players who helped the U.S. qualify for the Finals, including Sebastian Korda, Chris Eubanks, Brandon Nakashima, Mackenzie McDonald, and Reilly Opelka.Davenport emphasized the importance of team chemistry and the contributions of all players, regardless of whether they are on the court. She also praised Stearns, a rising star who has shown great potential in her first full year on the WTA Tour.If either U.S. team can make a deep run in the Finals, it will be a testament to the strength and depth of American tennis.