By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 15, 2024
Iga Swiatek and Poland cracked a new milestone on Friday in Malaga, reaching the quarterfinals of the BJK Cup Finals for the first time with a 2-0 victory over Spain.
To be fair, the table for the victory was set by Magda Linette, who outlasted Sara Sorribes Tormo 7-6(8), 2-6, 6-4 on a gruelling three our and 51-minute battle before Swiatek edged past Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1.
“Magda played an amazing match in the morning,” Swiatek said after clinching a quarterfinal tie with Czechia. “We both did it, and also the whole Polish team. I’m happy that we finally won a match at the BJK Cup Finals – it’s a huge step for sure.”
Swiatek needed two hours and 48 minutes to get past the former World No.2 in their third career meeting and first since 2021 (Swiatek now leads 2-1).
“It was super intense,” she said. “At the beginning I felt like it was my best match since the US Open, but later for sure she pushed me. There was a lot of pressure.
“For sure it’s easier to play when the team is already leading 1-0,” she said. “I was just focusing on myself and what I need to do on court. I need to keep grinding and being here and now on court.” Polish Captain Dawid Celt looked relieved that a long day of tense tennis had ended up with his nation victorious.
“I knew before the match it was going to be a battle and it was,” he said. “The first match was unbelievable, a lot of emotions. We achieved our goal – for the first time in hour history we are in the quarterfinals of the BJK Cup Finals!"
The quarterfinals are nearly set at BJK Cup. On Thursday Slovakia defeated USA, while Japan took out Romania.
Slovakia faces Australia next, while Japan faces Italy. The winner of this evening's tie between Germany and Great Britain will face defending champion Canada.