MALAGA, Spain — Iga Swiatek gained in singles and doubles to steer Poland’s 2-1 comeback in opposition to Czechia within the Billie Jean King Cup on Saturday.
Poland will meet Italy within the semifinals after Jasmine Paolini likewise gained her singles and doubles matches to steer Italy again for a 2-1 win over Japan.
Marie Bouzkova beat Magdalena Frech 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to provide Czechia a 1-0 lead on the indoor onerous court docket in Malaga’s Palacio del Deportes.
The second-ranked Swiatek leveled the rating after she held on for a 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-5 win over Linda Noskova.
The five-time Grand Slam winner then went again on the court docket after a brief break to assist Katarzyna Kawa beat Katerina Siniakova, the world’s top-ranked doubles participant, and Bouzkova 6-2, 6-4.
“Let’s get pleasure from this one,” Swiatek mentioned. “For positive it was an exhausting day and a few actually powerful matches, however I’m actually comfortable we gained that final one.”
She added that she hadn’t performed doubles in three years and praised Kawa’s well-placed passing pictures within the doubles lane as key to victory.
Swiatek confirmed no signal that she was worn down by the back-to-back matches that mixed for 3 hours, 50 minutes of enjoying time. The Polish pair transformed all 4 break possibilities and hit extra winners, 29-18, than the Czechs.
Poland is looking for its first title. Czechia is an 11-time champion, second solely to america’ 18 titles.
The fourth-ranked Paolini, a finalist at Wimbledon and the French Open, defeated Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-4 to degree the tie 1-1. She then helped Sara Errani beat Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi 6-3, 6-4 to seal the quarterfinal win.
Japan took the early lead when Ena Shibahara defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Uchijima stole Paolini’s first service sport. However that was solely a blip in an in any other case dominant exhibiting by the Italian. Paolini broke Uchijima 4 instances and hit 17 forehand winners to safe the straight-set victory.
In doubles, the Italians broke the Japanese 4 instances and made simply 14 unforced errors to 23 by their rivals.
“Japan is a troublesome cookie, as you say in English,” Italy captain Tathiana Garbin mentioned. “They performed with numerous braveness, so it was enjoyable to observe this type of degree. My gamers, they performed unbelievable doubles, so we made it.”
Italy misplaced final yr’s remaining to Canada.
