Paula Badosawho has not played a tournament since Wimbledon in July, was called to play in the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup (BJK) as part of the Spanish team that will be completed by Sara Sorribes, Rebeka Masarova, Cristina Bucsa and Marina Bassols.
Anabel Medinacaptain of the team, announced this Monday at the Higher Sports Council (CSD) his selections to attempt the sixth conquest of what is considered the women’s world cup, in final stage to be held from November 7 to 12 at La Cartuja stadium in Sevilleindoors and on hard courts.
Badosa, who closed his season due to back problems from which he wants to recover in time, He is currently ranked 56th in the world rankingthe best of the Spaniards despite their inactivity in the competition in recent months.
“Paula is going back to training, both physical and tennis, and is very, very willing to join the team to play in the Cup,” Medina said when commenting on the return of the team’s number one player.
Sara Sorribes is number 57 in the WTA, Rebeka Massarova is number 69, Cristina Bucsa is number 78 and Marina Bassols is number 111.. Sorribes won the WTA 1,000 doubles title in Beijing this Sunday, partnering Czech Marie Bouzkova.
Regarding the draw in which Spain secured their place in the finals, in April beating Mexico 3-0 in Marbella, Badosa and Bucsa entered the team. The Cantabrian player has just reached the round of 16 at the Tokyo tournament.
Anabel Medina has words of remembrance for the two left behind, Nuria Párrizas (132) and Aliona Bolsova (135).whom he thanked for their work.
The captain recalled that he has been in the position for seven years and 14 qualifiers. “We only played three at home. The home final is very special and playing in Seville inspires us,” he said.
The president of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation, Miguel Díaz, encouraged people to think about the Spanish team’s sixth title.
“Why not? We have all the right things: a good captain and some good players” he assured.
The president of the CSD, Víctor Francos, took the occasion to emphasize that in Spanish women’s sports “something is happening that cannot be reversed.”
“We have to believe it for it to be possible“, he said. “50% of the population can no longer be excluded from anything.”
Spain, who won the Federation Cup in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1998, will debut on November 8 against Canada and play on the 10th against Polandwith the aim of securing first place in group C and moving on to the semifinals on Saturday, the 11th. The Polish team will not be able to count on Iga Swiatek, who competed in the WTA finals in Cancun last week.
Last year the Spaniards also competed in the finals, but fell in the group stage.
Switzerland defends the title and will compete in group A with the two teams with the best record in this competition: the United States, with 18 titles, and the Czech Republic, with 11. Australia is the runner-up team in 2022.
Former Spanish player Conchita Martínez is the director of the finals of the competition and The record for Cup victories is held by another Spaniard, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, at 72 games. Both hold the record for the number of ends played, ten.
BJK Cup
Team composition
SA: United States, Switzerland and Czech Republic
b: Kazakhstan, Slovenia and Australia
c: Poland, Spain and Canada
d: Germany, Italy and France
Source: La Verdad
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