Badosa Leads the Dream of the Sixth Crown

Spain begins its journey in the Billie Jean King Cup against Poland this Wednesday with a dream: to win the sixth title in this competition, the first since 1998. Much has happened since Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and Conchita Martínez defeated Switzerland's Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder at the Palexpo in Geneva 26 years ago.

That victory, which should not forget Magüi Serna, who was key with three wins in the quarterfinals against Germany, is Spain's last in a competition that has changed its format several times in recent years and seems to have finally found the definitive one.

Anabel Medina's team will consist of Paula Badosa, as Spain's main player, accompanied by Jessica Bouzas, Sara Sorribes, Nuria Párrizas, and Marina Bassols, who joined at the last minute due to Cristina Bucsa's injury.

With Bucsa's absence, Spain loses a stronghold in doubles, where the pair with Sorribes won the WTA 1,000 in Madrid and the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite this, it is a more than competitive team, especially due to Badosa's great form.

Since Wimbledon, the Spaniard has played 30 matches, won 24, and lost six, achieving the title in Washington, semifinals in Beijing, Cincinnati, and Ningbo, and quarterfinals in the US Open. This streak has moved her from the 113th position before Wimbledon to twelfth, just missing out on last week's WTA Finals in Riyadh.

This will be her second participation in the former Fed Cup, after not playing last season despite being called up, and the two victories she achieved in 2022. Her good form will be vital for Spain to have chances in the tournament.

Then there is the option of Sorribes in doubles, who will have to pair with Badosa, Párrizas, or Bouzas, in addition to the second player, likely from Pontevedra. Bouzas has completed the best season of her career, starting the year ranked 158 and now among the top sixty. Besides winning her first WTA title in Antalya, the Galician defeated Paula Badosa in Madrid, Marketa Vondrousova, the reigning champion, at Wimbledon, and reached the third round at both the All England Club and the US Open, her best Grand Slam results.

The match against the Polish team, which will take place this Wednesday not before 17:00, will consist of two singles matches and one doubles. For Poland, besides Swiatek, there will be Magdalena Frech, ranked 25th, Magda Linette (38), Maja Chwalinska (165), and Katarzyna Kawa (258).

If they defeat Poland, Medina's team will face the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, which enters directly into this round as a seed, while in the semifinals, Italy, Japan, or Romania could appear.

On the other side of the draw are Canada, the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, and Slovakia. The quarterfinals will be on Saturday 16th, the semifinals on Monday 19th, and the final on Wednesday 20th. All of this will take place at the Martín Carpena Pavilion in Málaga, where the Davis Cup Finals will be held days later.