Iga Swiatek overcomes Paula Badosa to push Poland past BJK Cup Finals host Spain

MALAGA, Spain (AP)—Poland’s Iga Swiatek beat home favorite Paula Badosa of Spain to knock out the host of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in the opening round on Friday.

The world No. 2 Swiatek sealed Poland’s spot in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic after she beat No. 12 Badosa, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1, on the indoor hard court.

Badosa scrapped to get back in the match by winning the second-set tiebreaker. But Swiatek roared back with a dominant third set and a break advantage of 8-3.

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Earlier this year, Swiatek won a bronze medal for Poland at the Paris Olympics.

Earlier this year, Swiatek won a bronze medal for Poland at the Paris Olympics.

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The match was delayed late in the third set for what organizers called a “medical incident” apparently among the spectators inside Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes.

“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.”