Malaga | Poland and Nice Britain advance to BJK Cup final 8

Friday proved to be a day of thrillers on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga, when Poland overcame host nation Spain due to 3-set victories for Magda Linette and Iga Swiatek towards Sara Sorribes Tormo and Paula Badosa, respectively, and Nice Britain eased previous Germany following victories for Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter.

I mentioned it at first, earlier than the competitors began, I actually consider that we are able to win this. I haven’t got an issue saying that out loud, as a result of we have got high quality gamers who’ve proven in their very own proper what they’re able to. Anne Keothavong, Nice Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain

Workforce Poland advance to a quarter-final tie towards Czechia on Saturday, whereas in Sunday’s night session, Nice Britain will face defending champions Canada.

Britain’s No 1 and a pair of each delivered, with Raducanu defeating Jule Niemeier, 6-4 6-4, within the opening rubber, and Boulter following with a 70-minute demolition over Laura Siegemund, 6-1 6-2, win to clinch the tie, 2-0.

“I believe we actually again ourselves right here,” Raducanu mentioned forward the occasion. “We have now Boults, who’s a large ball-striker, it’s indoor tennis, she’s been taking part in rather well in Asia, she received loads of matches so I believe she’s feeling actually assured.

“I put just a few actually good weeks of coaching in, so I believe I’m feeling fairly assured in how I’m taking part in. For me, it is going to be nearly adjusting to taking part in matches once more. It’s been just a few months, so I’m intrigued to see how that goes.”

Workforce GB had their night tie delayed, nevertheless, as Poland battled long and hard to get previous Spain after a 10am begin.

At 3 hours and 51 minutes, Linette’s opening triumph for Poland was 9 minutes shy of the longest rubber performed within the competitors, and he or she was pressured to come back from 0-3 down within the deciding set to win 7-6(6) 2-6 6-4 towards Sorribes Tormo.

With Poland main the tie, Swiatek stepped onto courtroom with the prospect to ship her nation by way of to their first Billie Jean King Cup quarter-final since 2015, and he or she didn’t disappoint, with a 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 win over Badosa to eradicate out hosts Spain, 2-0.

“I wouldn’t say I pushed us to quarter-finals,” Swiatek mentioned on courtroom. “Magda performed a tremendous match within the morning. We each did it. I’m actually completely happy that we lastly received a match on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.”

This opening tie was initially scheduled for Wednesday night however was pushed again 2 days attributable to heavy rain in southern Spain, which brought about some flooding in Malaga and left authorities on excessive alert after the devastating flash floods that claimed greater than 200 lives in Valencia final month.

Linette put Poland 1-0 up after recovering from 0-3 down within the third set to earn her first profession win over Sorribes Tormo, having misplaced all 4 of their earlier conferences, together with on the 2023 BJK Cup Finals.

“I hate taking part in Sara a lot!” an exhausted Linette mentioned in her on-court interview. “I knew it was going to take me 4 hours, and it did.”

Sorribes Tormo confirmed immense grit to the final, and, on Linette’s first match level, the tenacious Spaniard conjured up a exceptional lob off a Polish drive volley that simply dropped contained in the courtroom, however the Pole continued to decide to coming ahead, and strong web play lastly noticed her over the road.

Linette struck extra winners, 55-12, whereas additionally making 79 unforced errors to Sorribes Tormo’s 26.

“I really feel I need to be completely happy and need to cry on the identical time,” Linette mentioned. “Actually proud, as a result of it was actually powerful circumstances. I by no means overwhelmed her. Felt accountability, and felt I’ve to ship, and I actually gave every part I had in the present day towards one of many hardest opponents towards me.”

© Jorge Guerrero/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

Swiatek and Badosa had exchanged wins of their 2 prior encounters, each in 2021, when the Spaniard upset the Pole on the Tokyo Olympic Video games, however Swiatek avenged that loss on the WTA Finals Guadalajara.

The 23-year outdated Pole solely returned to competitors final week on the WTA Finals, 2 months after deciding to step other than the WTA tour attributable to fatigue following her US Open quarter-final exit.

She additionally misplaced her World No 1 rating to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, however began properly towards Badosa, ranked 12, by taking the primary set and transferring 3-0 forward within the second.

Initially, there was little separating them, and, for the primary 6 video games, they delivered a succession of thrilling, high-octane baseline exchanges, with neither giving floor on serve.

After Badosa double-faulted at break level down at 3-2, Swiatek rattled off 7 straight video games in dominant vogue to take her 3-0 second-set lead, however the Spanish No 1 rebounded, discovering her kind once more, to combat again.

Roared on by the house followers, Badosa took the rubber into a 3rd set by successful a good tiebreak, however Swiatek got here again relentlessly to interrupt the Spaniard’s serve 4 instances, and ship Poland by way of to the Final 8.

“I’m completely happy that we lastly received a tie on the BJK Cup Finals. It’s a giant step for us,” Swiatek mentioned afterwards. “My match was tremendous intense. Initially I felt prefer it was my greatest match for the reason that US Open. Afterward she pushed me, and there was loads of stress.”

After exchanging 3 breaks of serve to open the equally tight deciding set, Swiatek snapped the streak to carry for a 3-1 lead, and prolonged her benefit to a double-break to maneuver forward, 4-1, earlier than the rubber was paused to take care of an unwell spectator.

On resumption, Swiatek protected her result in shut out the win after the two hour 38 minute thriller.

“To start with, I felt, like, it was my greatest match since I’m again after US Open,” Swiatek mentioned. “However, afterward, for certain, she pushed me, and there was loads of stress. The tiebreak, I knew each level mattered, and I did one little mistake, and sadly it went her means.

“However I knew I may come again within the third set, and attempt to win it for Poland.”

Emma Raducanu beat Germany’s Jule Niemeier to set Workforce GB on their approach to the quarter-finals on the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga on Friday night time

On Thursday night, Emma Raducanu delivered Nice Britain a 1-0 lead over Germany, taking part in in her first match since making the quarter-finals of the Hana Financial institution Korea Open in September.

Having been scheduled as the ultimate tie of the opening spherical on the Finals week, Workforce GB then needed to wait one other hour and 25 minutes longer than deliberate for Poland to finish their victory over Spain.

Raducanu served 10 aces in her 6-4 6-4 win over Niemeier, and whereas there have been additionally 7 double-faults and 6 match factors, it gave Katie Boulter the prospect to clinch the win by beating Laura Siegemund, and earn Workforce GB an encounter with defending champions Canada on Sunday.

“I believe it’s a good way to come back again, regardless that there’s some stress, to attain some extent on your group,” Raducanu mentioned later. “, you’re not simply taking part in for your self; you’re taking part in for everybody.

“I believe, as a person athlete, it’s not like a tour occasion. So, I believe, having your group members on the aspect cheering you on whenever you is perhaps a little bit bit nervous, and being able to make use of on-court teaching and getting suggestions may be very useful, whenever you haven’t performed for a very long time.”

The 22-year outdated, who was sidelined for nearly 2 months with a foot damage and celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, held off a stern problem from Niemeier, shaking off her aggressive rust by producing 13 break factors on the German’s serve.

Niemeier struck 18 winners to the Brit’s 15, however was undone by her 9 double-faults within the 1-hour and 55-minute contest.

The 2021 US Open champion regarded sharp, and he or she held the sting on rating over Niemeier, a robust 25-year-old who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals 2 years in the past, sitting at No 58 in comparison with her opponent’s 92.

Raducanu made the primary transfer, a fiercely struck forehand return incomes her a break at 3-3, however she needed to save 5 break factors within the subsequent recreation to carry onto her lead, helped by 4 of the 7 aces she served within the opener.

She confidently served it out, after which broke once more to begin the second set, this time drilling a backhand return into the nook.

Though Raducanu was unable to stop Niemeier retrieving the break, she went straight again on the offensive and opened up a 5-2 lead, however, ending off matches has at instances been an issue for her, and he or she double-faulted on match level.

Niemeier went on to interrupt, earlier than Raducanu noticed 3 extra probabilities to finish it go begging on the German’s serve.

Then, on the sixth time of asking, Raducanu lastly made it throughout the road, bouncing up and down and pumping her fist to her team-mates.

“I believe I performed some actually good tennis in the present day,” Raducanu mentioned. “I haven’t clearly performed a match in a very long time so these are small sharpness issues that come the extra matches I play. I’m very completely happy.

“I’m very happy to come back out with that efficiency after an extended layoff. I believe it’s been round two months since my final match, and it’s by no means simple getting back from damage and the distinction between observe and a match.

“I really feel fairly good bodily. Emotionally I felt fairly calm on the market. Yeah, I’m very happy to have scored that time. It’s a pleasant win!”

Niemeier was impressed, reasonably than irritated, by the loud followers from Nice Britain cheering their group on.

“We heard, whereas we have been standing behind the stands, that the environment may be very, excellent. In fact there have been extra British followers than Germans,” she mentioned. “However I actually loved taking part in on the courtroom in the present day.

“She reacted significantly better than me within the decisive moments, particularly within the shut and essential moments, she actually stepped up her recreation.”

A delighted Katie Boulter sealed the win for Nice Britain by demolishing Germany’s Laura Siegemund in 70 minutes to advance to the Final 8 towards defending champions Canada on Sunday

©  Nathan Stirk/Getty Pictures for LTA

Boulter, now ranked 24, adopted with a 70-minute 6-1 6-2 dominant win over Siegemund to clinch the tie.

The 36-year-old from Stuttgart, who shouldn’t be solely thought of an all-rounder, but additionally as a crowd-puller within the German group, began confidently towards Boulter, and received the primary service break.

Her transient benefit, although, was short-lived, because the British No 1 then took absolute management.

“I’m extremely dissatisfied, I hoped to be a bit extra harmful,’ mentioned Siegemund after her defeat. “I didn’t play significantly properly in the present day. Katie is taking part in very properly for the time being, the extent was too excessive for me, particularly on such a particularly quick floor.

“I simply have to simply accept that she will deal with the tempo higher than me. I can’t say I didn’t attempt my greatest, however I clearly didn’t look good in the present day.”

Boulter swung freely and put in a medical efficiency from the service line to enhance to 2-0 throughout all ranges towards Siegemund.

Coming off a run to the ultimate on the Prudential Hong Kong Open, Boulter received 75% of her first service factors and was damaged simply as soon as within the match, whereas she broke Siegemund 5 instances by dominating the German’s second serve.

In truth, Siegemund solely managed to win 1 of 14 factors behind her second serve.

“I performed properly in the present day. It’s not simple, she’s a tricky opponent,” Boulter informed the media. “I don’t suppose she was at her greatest. However on the identical time, I performed properly too. That is encouraging and a very good begin to the match.”

With two particular person wins, Workforce GB didn’t want a decisive doubles match, and might now save their energy for the quarter-final towards Canada on Sunday, with Leylah Fernandez main her group because the defending champions.

“I don’t suppose I’ve ever performed her,” Boulter mentioned. “She’s an amazing participant and I’ve loads of respect for her.

“She’s the primary particular person on courtroom whenever you arrive on the facility within the morning, and the final one whenever you depart. It is going to be an absolute battle, however I’m trying ahead to it.”

Captain Anne Keothavong believes Workforce GB can go the entire means on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Spain

© Nathan Stirk/Getty Pictures for LTA

Quarter-final motion begins on Saturday, with Japan going through last-year’s runners-up Italy, whereas Poland takes on Czechia within the night, adopted on Sunday by Australia assembly Slovakia, who knocked out the US, along with Nice Britain’s tie towards Canada.

“I mentioned it at first, earlier than the competitors began, I actually consider that we are able to win this,” mentioned GB Captain Anne Keothavong. “I don’t have an issue saying that out loud, as a result of we’ve received high quality gamers who’ve proven in their very own proper what they’re able to.”

Day 3 Outcomes

Poland defeated Spain 2-0

• Magda Linette (POL) d. Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 7-6(6) 2-6 6-4
• Iga Swiatek (POL) d. Paula Badosa (ESP) 6-3 6-7(6) 6-1
• Marina Bassols Ribera/Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) v Magdalena Frech/Katarzyna Kawa (POL) – not performed

Poland advance to a quarter-final tie towards Czechia on Saturday.

Nice Britain defeated Germany 2-0

• Emma Raducanu (GBR) d. Jule Niemeier (GER) 6-4 6-4
• Katie Boulter (GBR) d. Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-1 6-2
• Anna-Lena Friedsam/Tatjana Maria (GER) v Olivia Nicholls/Heather Watson (GBR) – not performed

Nice Britain advance to a quarter-final tie towards Canada on Sunday.