She was the leader of Poland in a duet with Iga Świątek. The hands were folded in applause!

Saturday, November 16, brought a lot of emotions to Polish tennis fans. In the final tournament of the Billie Jean King Cup, the women’s team had a chance for historic success. However, the Polish women had to deal with the Czechs, a very strong tennis nation, but certainly within the reach of the Polish team in Malaga.

Katarzyna Kawa, the heroine of Polish women in the Billie Jean King Cup!

However, the quarterfinals of BJKC 2024 began with the defeat of Magdalena Fręch in the singles. It became clear that Iga Świątek could not afford to lose because Poland would be out of the tournament. The WTA ranking runner-up did her job, beating Linda Noskova in three games. The match against the Czech, who was only 19 years old, cost the Pole almost three hours of play. This was important because captain Dawid Celt selected Świątek once again, match by match, for the decisive doubles competition.

The leader among the singles players was joined by Katarzyna Kawa, an experienced doubles player. As it turned out, it was a bull’s-eye. Kawa led the game of the Polish duo in the right way, strongly supporting Świątek.

On the other side of the net, however, the Polish women had opponents who were much more experienced in the doubles version. Marie Bouzkova appeared on the court, but with the famous Katerina Siniakova by her side. One of the best, if not the best doubles player in the world in the last few years. Sinakova is, among others, Olympic doubles champion in Paris (2024) and Tokyo (2020). Additionally, this year, as a doubles player, she triumphed at the Grand Slams at Wimbledon and at Roland Garros.

However, Kawa and Świątek won 6:2, 6:4 – causing quite a surprise. The more experienced Pole strongly complimented the WTA runner-up for her successful cooperation. Świątek last played in a doubles match in a competitive game a few years ago. Together with Kawa, however, they formed a very good duo, strength combined with subtlety – and the whole thing was topped with great technique.

Additionally, the more experienced Polish woman, the leader of the doubles duo, celebrates her birthday on November 17. She gave herself the perfect gift, as she said in the post-match interview.

Kawa’s game has been appreciated, among others: by the former president of the Polish Football Association, a football legend – and privately a tennis enthusiast – Zbigniew Boniek.

Where and when to watch the Poland-Italy semi-final in BJKC 2024?

The fight for a place in the Billie Jean King Cup 2024 final between Poles and Italians will take place on Monday (November 18). The start is scheduled for 5 p.m. Who will play in the second semi-final? This will become clear only in the next few days. On Sunday (i.e. November 17), the quarterfinals will be played with the participation of Canada and Great Britain, as well as Australia and Slovakia.

It is from this quartet that the second semi-final pair will emerge, which will play on Tuesday (i.e. November 19). The grand finale in Malaga a day later, on Wednesday, from 6 p.m.

Broadcasts from the competition in the BJKC final tournament can be watched on TVP Sport. It will be possible to follow the tennis players’ national team activities online on the television website, mobile application, Smart TV, and HbbTV.