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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

BJK Cup Finals '24: Forza⁵


Finally, one for the thumb!






BILLIE JEAN KING CUP FINALS (Malaga, ESP/HCI)
1st: GBR def. GER 2-0 - MVP: Raducanu
1st: SVK def. USA 2-1 [dd] - MVP: Hruncakova/Mihalikova
1st: POL def. ESP 2-0 - MVP: Swiatek
1st: JPN def. ROU 2-1 [dd] - MVP: Shibahara
QF: GBR def. #1 CAN 2-0 - MVP: Boulter
QF: SVK def. #4 AUS 2-0 - MVP: Sramkova
QF: POL def. #2 CZE 2-1 [dd] - MVP: Swiatek
QF: #3 ITA def. JPN 2-1 [dd] - MVP: Paolini
SF: #3 ITA def. POL 2-1 [dd] - MVP: Errani/Paolini
SF: SVK def. GBR 2-1 [dd] - MVP: Sramkova
F: #3 ITA def. SVK 2-0 - MVP: Paolini




1. Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA ...while they didn't win the *biggest* doubles titles in '24, the Italians were the best duo on tour this season. A Gold medal, Roland Garros final, and four titles (two of them 1000s) proved that over the course of the year, and their performance with the heat on in Malaga only gilded that particular lily. Twice the Italians' collective fate was in their hands in deciding doubles matches, and both times they came through in the clutch, defeating Japan (QF Aoyama/Hozumi) and Poland (SF Kawa/Swiatek) in the nation's first two ties of the week, then never needing to be called on in the Final vs. Slovakia.

Make no mistake, the pair's partnership and the confidence the rest of the team (and captain Tathiana Garbin) had in their ability to win the doubles if called upon was surely the heart of soul of the turn-back-the-clock effort that brought Italy a fifth Cup title, the first in eleven years after having come up short in last year's final against Canada.

While Paolini added yet another new experience to her career resume, 37-year old Errani has to be experiencing a sense of deja vu. The last active member of the famed Italian Quartet that combined to win four titles in eight years (2006-13), though Errani participated in just three of them, '24 has seen the veteran earn yet another turn in the champion's circle after some lean (and controversial) years over the past decade. Not long ago, it seemed that such recaptured glory was out of her reach.

But if women's tennis has learned anything over the years, it is to *never* count out an Italian. Any Italian.
2. Viktoria Hruncakova/Tereza Mihalikova, SVK ...the wins and celebrations of this doubles pair will stand as the memorable snapshots of Slovakia's run to the nation's first Cup final since winning the title in 2002. They combined to upset the U.S. in the 1st Round (def. Krueger/Townsend) and Poland in the SF (def. Kawa/Swiatek) via deciding doubles matches to edge out the competition and advance.

For her part, though she was 1-2 overall in singles, Hruncakova posted a tie-opening victory over Kimberly Birrell (AUS) in the QF, making it the only time SVK won the #1 singles match over four ties in Malaga (Hruncakova also posted two wins in the 4-0 victory -- one each in s/d -- over SLO in April's Qualifiers to help reach the BJKF event).
3. Jasmine Paolini, ITA ...Paolini made her Cup debut for Team Italia back in 2017, and it took until 2020 (eight completed matches later) before she got her first *completed* win (her maiden match was a deciding doubles win over, interestingly, SVK when Schmiedlova/Sramkova retired after just seven games).

In last year's BJKF Final, Paolini fell 2 & 3 to Leylah Fernandez as Canada stormed to the title. A year later, she was a combined 4-1 in Malaga, joining with Errani for two DD wins as well as forcing the DD in JPN (def. Uchijima) in the QF, taking Iga Swiatek to three sets in a singles loss in the semis, and then clinching Italy's fifth Cup win with a 2 & 1 win over Sramkova to close out Italy's 2-0 victory.

Was there really any doubt that Paolini would win that match? I mean, after the stunning improvement her results have shown over the last twelve months (w/ two slam finals, four second week runs in majors, a 1000 title, two wins over Rybakina and a #4 ranking), there was *no* way the Tennis Gods would allow her to lose in her final singles match of the year, right?
4. Iga Swiatek, POL ...after a disappointing WTAF defense that ended in round robin play, Swiatek tried to put the Polish team on her shoulders in Malaga. After an admirable attempt, it just wasn't enough to get the team into its first Cup final.

Iga *did* manage to pull POL into its maiden semis, though, winning three-set matches over Paula Badosa (1r) and Linda Noskova (QF), then joining with Katarzyna Kawa to take out the Czechs in the deciding doubles. She sent the tie vs. Italy to the doubles again with a win over Jasmine Paolini (another three-setter) in the semis with her 11th Top 10 win of '24. But Swiatek & Kawa couldn't repeat their feat, falling to Paolini & Sara Errani in straights (losing a 5-1 2nd set lead in an attempt to force a MTB).

Swiatek finishes the season with 64 wins, her third straight 60+ season. She was 5-0 in Cup singles (where she's won 10 straight, and had 12 consecutive s/d wins before the loss vs. the Italians).

The only Top 10 player to participate in 2024's Qualifiers round and BJK Cup Finals event, Swiatek's body of work is enough to earn her Backspin's BJK Cup Player of the Year for the entire *season*, just ahead of the likes of Emma Raducanu and Viktoria Hruncakova.

Meanwhile, in one of the (likely) most telling stats over the past few seasons (and *my* favorite Iga statistic of all, I think), it should be noted that while Swiatek has gone 156-24 in her career as the #1-ranked played in the world, when she's twice dropped to #2 in consecutive seasons in 2023-24 she's gone a possibly *more* impressive 17-2.
5. Rebecca Sramkova, SVK ...while her doubles partners/teammates got the glory shot celebration videos with two DD wins, Sramkova did the heavy lifting in Malaga to make SVK's run to the final possible.

On fire since the U.S. Open, in a stretch where she's reached three tour finals (winning her maiden title) and gone a combined 20-5 (after a 26-18 start to '24), Sramkova went 3-0 in Malaga singles to help push Slovakia into the BJK limelight. With SVK down 0-1, she twice won matches to force the doubles (vs. Collins in the 1st Round, Boulter in the SF) and clinched another tie (w/ a 1 & 2 win over Tomljanvoic to shut down AUS in the QF), though couldn't come up with yet another win vs. Jasmine Paolini in the Final.
6. Emma Raducanu, GBR ...along with Swiatek, Raducanu had the best overall singles season in Cup play. In leading Team GB into the semifinals (a second such appearance in the last three BJK Cup Finals), she notched wins over Jule Niemeier, Rebecca Marino and Victoria Hruncakova to improve to 5-0 on the year (she had wins over Garcia and Parry on clay in the spring Qualifiers), but saw Katie Boulter's loss to Rebecca Sramkova send the SF vs. Slovakia to the doubles, were Hruncakova/Mihalikova won their their second deciding doubles contest of the week.
7. Lucia Bronzetti, ITA ...every good/great Cup team needs a player who toils just outside the spotlight, getting the key wins that allow the big names to clinch victory. In Malaga, that was Bronzetti, who won in her first two career Cup singles outings to give Italy important 1-0 leads in the SF (vs. Magda Linette/POL) and Final (vs. Viktoria Hruncakova/SVK).
8. Ena Shibahara, JPN ...Shibahara's fulfilling 2024 singles journey finally found its way into Cup action, as the longtime doubles specialist (where she's gone 8-1 for Team JPN, with her only loss coming in a "dead" WD match last spring) made her singles debut in the Malaga event. She sent the 1st Round vs. Romania to doubles (won by Aoyama/Hozumi) with a win over Jaqueline Cristian, and then defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto in three sets in the QF opener against Italy. Errani/Paolini defeated Aoyama/Hozumi to end Japan's run, handing Ai Sugiyama her only defeat in her first nine ties since becoming the Japanese captain in 2023.

Shibahara is now 10-0 in "live" s/d ties in Cup play, and has 51 overall singles wins this season (she'd never won more than 16 in any season before '24, and had a total of 78 combined from 2017-23).










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1. BJKF Final Match #1 - Lucia Bronzetti/ITA def. Viktoria Hruncakova/SVK 6-2/6-4
BJKF Final Match #2 - Jasmine Paolini/ITA def. Rebecca Sramkova/SVK 6-2/6-1
...in a second consecutive BJK final, the Italians win their first Cup crown for captain Tathiana Garbin, who wasn't part of any of Italy's title wins in 2006, 2009, 2010 or 2013. Meanwhile, Sara Errani gets her fourth, while the likes of Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Martina Trevisan and Bronzetti have their first tastes.



Win #5 brings the Italians into a fourth place tie (w/ RUS and ESP) on the all-time title list behind the U.S. (18), Czech Republic (11) and Australia (7). The U.S. and Australia have combined for just one title (US '17) since the turn of the century, with the Aussies are title-less since 1974.
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2. BJKF 1st Rd. - SVK def. USA 2-1.
Match #1 - Taylor Townsend/USA def. Renata Jamrichova/SVK 7-5/6-4
Match #2 - Rebecca Sramkova/SVK def. Danielle Collins/USA 6-2/7-5
Match #3 - Viktoria Hruncakova/Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) def. Ashlyn Krueger/Taylor Townsend (USA) 6-3/3-6 [10-8]
...Lindsay Davenport's first year as the U.S. captain ends with a swift exit from the BJK Cup Finals following (overall) one of the most successful tour seasons in ages by the deep and talented Bannerette contingent; while Slovakia's stunning run to a first Cup final since 2002 begins with a stunning upset.

But was it really?

Yes, the Slovaks were suddenly unsteady as they flirted with a late collapse, leading 9-2 in the breaker before finally winning on MP #7. But Sramkova was surely the most in-form player in the mix here, Collins hasn't won a match since the Olympics (this was her fifth straight loss, starting with her retirement vs. Swiatek in Paris), and Hruncakova has a history of clutch Cup results (this wasn't her only deciding doubles win with Mihalkova in Malaga). Even Slovakia seems to have Team USA's number, as one of Kathy Rinaldi's final squads (in BJKF round robin play) also lost a three-match tie vs. SVK in 2021.


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3. POL/CZE QF Match #2 - Iga Swiatek/POL def. Linda Noskova/CZE
...7-6(4)/4-6/7-5. Noskova, already with a career win over Swiatek ('24 AO 4r), puts up a fight but goes down to force the doubles as Petr Pala's "gut instinct" to go with the young Crusher *doesn't* seal the deal for the Czechs.

Swiatek led 4-2 in the 1st before Noskova forced a TB, won by the Pole; then Iga led 4-1 in the 3rd before the Czech tied things at 5-5. Swiatek swept the final two games.




POL/CZE QF Match #3 - Iga Swiatek/Katarzyna Kawa (POL) def. Marie Bouzkova/Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 6-2/6-4
...the Poles get a rare deciding doubles win over the Czechs, who have specialized in such victories during their many Cup title runs. The Poles led 4-0 in the 2nd and were pushed as Bouzkova/Siniakova got to 4-4, to no avail, as Poland reached its first SF.



Since 2011, the Czechs are now 22-4 in hard court ties, and 12-4 in deciding doubles matches.
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4. ITA/POL SF Match #2 - Iga Swiatek/POL def. Jasmine Paolini/ITA 3-6/6-4/6-4
ITA/POL SF Match #3 - Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini (ITA) def. Katarzyna Kawa/Iga Swiatek (POL) 7-5/7-5
...Swiatek comes up big in her third straight three-setter in Malaga, breaking Paolini to close both the 2nd and 3rd sets to force another deciding doubles contest.

This time, though, the Poles can't convert as it's Errani/Paolini who win a second straight DD match to send Italy to back-to-back Cup finals (and the nation's first win since 2013). The Italians fought off Poland to win both sets, saving 3 SP at 5-4 in the 1st, then staging a comeback from 5-1 down to win the 2nd.


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5. SVK/GBR SF Match #2 - Rebecca Sramkova/SVK def. Katie Boulter/GBR 2-6/6-4/6-4
SVK/GBR SF Match #3 - Viktoria Hruncakova/Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) def. Olivia Nicholls/Heather Watson (GBR) 6-2/6-2
...Sramkova saves the tie (again) to send things to another deciding doubles, where Hruncakova/Mihalkova wrap up Slovakia's first trip to a Cup final in 22 years.


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6. POL/ESP 1st Rd. Match #2 - Iga Swiatek/POL def. Paula Badosa/ESP
...6-3/6-7(5)/6-1. Swiatek adds win #8 to her now 10-match Cup winning streak, and she and Badosa produce what might be termed an anti-Navarrian moment at the net.

Side note: it was Badosa's birthday, but at least the Spaniard didn't question how Iga has so many fans and tell her that she doesn't respect her as a player, right?


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7. GBR/CAN QF Match #1 - Emma Raducanu/GBR def. Rebecca Marino/CAN 6-0/7-5
GBR/CAN QF Match #2 - Katie Boulter/GBR def. Leylah Fernandez/CAN 6-2/6-4
...Raducanu dominates Marino in the opener, winning 100% of her first serves, but -- ahhhh -- we were this close to the first Raducanu/Fernandez face-off since they met in the U.S. Open final in 2021!


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8. JPN/ROU 1st Rd. - Ena Shibahara/JPN def. Jaqueline Cristian/ROU
...6-4/7-6(2). After the singles season of her dreams (well, unless she follows the Krejcikova route and gets even *better* in singles after deciding to not be "just a doubles specialist"), Shibahara records her first solo win in Cup play.


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Former WTA No. 24 Christina McHale, who retired in 2022, is back competing after receiving a wild card into the USTA Pro Circuit W50 main draw in Boca Raton this week. www.usta.com/content/dam/...

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— Colette Lewis (@zootennis.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 6:24 PM





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*FED CUP/BJK CUP FINALS*
1963 United States def. Australia 2-1
1964 Australia def. United States 2-1
1965 Australia def. United States 2-1
1966 United States def. West Germany 3-0
1967 United States def. Great Britain 2-0
1968 Australia def. Netherlands 3-0
1969 United States def. Australia 2-1
1970 Australia def. West Germany 3-0
1971 Australia def. Great Britain 3-0
1972 South Africa def. Great Britain 2-1
1973 Australia def. South Africa 3-0
1974 Australia def. United States 2-1
1975 Czechoslovakia def. Australia 3-0
1976 United States def. Australia 2-1
1977 United States def. Australia 2-1
1978 United States def. Australia 2-1
1979 United States def. Australia 3-0
1980 United States def. Australia 3-0
1981 United States def. Great Britain 3-0
1982 United States def. West Germany 3-0
1983 Czechoslovakia def. West Germany 2-1
1984 Czechoslovakia def. Australia 2-1
1985 Czechoslovakia def. United States 2-1
1986 United States def. Czechoslovakia 3-0
1987 West Germany def. United States 2-1
1988 Czechoslovakia def. USSR 2-1
1989 United States def. Spain 3-0
1990 United States def. USSR 2-1
1991 Spain def. United States 2-1
1992 Germany def. Spain 2-1
1993 Spain def. Australia 3-0
1994 Spain def. United States 3-0
1995 Spain def. United States 3-2
1996 United States def. Spain 5-0
1997 France def. Netherlands 4-1
1998 Spain def. Switzerland 3-2
1999 United States def. Russia 4-1
2000 United States def. Spain 5-0
2001 Belgium def. Russia 2-1
2002 Slovak Republic def. Spain 3-1
2003 France def. United States 4-1
2004 Russia def. France 3-2
2005 Russia def. France 3-2
2006 Italy def. Belgium 3-2
2007 Russia def. Italy 4-0
2008 Russia def. Spain 4-0
2009 Italy def. United States 4-0
2010 Italy def. United States 3-1
2011 Czech Republic def. Russia 3-2
2012 Czech Republic def. Serbia 3-1
2013 Italy def. Russia 4-0
2014 Czech Republic def. Germany 3-1
2015 Czech Republic def. Russia 3-2
2016 Czech Republic def. France 3-2
2017 United States def. Belarus 3-2
2018 Czech Republic def. United States 3-0
2019 France def. Australia 3-2
2020-21 Russia (RTF) def. Switzerland 2-0
2022 Switzerland def. Australia 2-0
2023 Canada def. Italy 2-0
2024 Italy def. Slovakia 2-0
[MOST TITLES]
18 - United States
11 - Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia
7 - Australia
5 - Italy
5 - Russia/RTF/USSR
5 - Spain
3 - France
2 - Germany/West Germany
1 - Belgium
1 - Canada
1 - Slovakia/Slovak Republic
1 - South Africa
1 - Switzerland

*BACKSPIN FED CUP/BJK CUP AWARDS*
*-non-title winning nation
[FED CUP/BJK CUP PLAYER OF YEAR]
2005 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2006 Francesca Schiavone, RUS
2007 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2008 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2009 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2010 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2013 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2016 Caroline Garcia, FRA*
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
2018 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2019 Ash Barty, AUS*
2020-21 Jil Teichmann, SUI*
2022 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2023 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
2024 Iga Swiatek, POL*
[FED CUP/BJK CUP CAPTAIN OF YEAR]
2015 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA*
2016 Paul Haarhuis, NED*
2017 Kathy Rinaldi, USA
2018 Kathy Rinaldi, USA*
2019 Julien Benneteau, FRA
2020-21 Igor Andreev, RUS (RTF)
2022 Alicia Molik, AUS*
2023 Tathiana Garbin, ITA*
2024 Matej Liptak, SVK*
[FED CUP/BJK CUP FINALS MVP]
2002 Daniela Hantuchova, SVK
2003 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS
2005 Elena Dementieva, RUS
2006 Francesa Schiavone, ITA
2007 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2008 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2009 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2010 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2013 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2016 Barbora Strycova, CZE
2017 CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
2018 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2019 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2021 Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (RTF)
2022 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2023 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
2024 Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA

*FC/BJK CUP FINAL - SINGLES CLINCHER VICTORY; since 2000*
[finals event; 2000-2001]
2000 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2001 Kim Clijsters, BEL
[single-elimination bracket format; 2002-19]
2002 Janette Husarova, SVK
2003 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2007 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2008 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2009 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2010 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2012 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2013 Sara Errani, ITA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2018 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
[finals event; 2020/21-current]
2021 Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (RTF)
2022 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2023 Leylah Fernandez, CAN
2024 Jasmine Paolini, ITA



*FED/BJK CUP SEMIFINALS - since 2000*
2000 2001 2002
United States (W)
Belgium
Czech Republic
Spain (RU)		 Russia (W)
Belgium (RU)
France (Group 2nd)
Spain (Group 2nd)		 Italy
Slovak Republic (W)
Austria
Spain (RU)
2003 2004 2005
Belgium
United States (RU)
Russia
France (W)		 France (RU)
Spain
Russia (W)
Austria		 Russia (W)
United States
Spain
France (RU)
2006 2007 2008
Belgium (RU)
United States
Spain
Italy (W)		 Italy (RU)
France
Russia (W)
United States		 Russia (W)
United States
China
Spain (RU)
2009 2010 2011
Russia
Italy (W)
United States (RU)
Czech Republic		 Italy (W)
Czech Republic
Russia
United States (RU)		 Italy
Russia (RU)
Czech Republic (W)
Belgium
2012 2013 2014
Russia
Serbia (RU)
Italy
Czech Republic (W)		 Czech Republic
Italy (W)
Russia (RU)
Slovak Republic		 Italy
Czech Republic (W)
Germany (RU)
Australia
2015 2016 2017
Czech Republic (W)
France
Russia (RU)
Germany		 Czech Republic (W)
Switzerland
France (RU)
Netherlands		 Czech Republic
United States (W)
Belarus (RU)
Switzerland
2018 2019 2020/21
Germany
Czech Republic (W)
France
United States (RU)		 Romania
France (W)
Belarus
Australia (RU)		 Russian TF (W)
United States
Australia
Switzerland (RU)
2022 2023 2024
Switzerland (W)
Czech Republic
Great Britain
Australia (RU)		 Czech Republic
Canada (W)
Italy (RU)
Slovenia		 Great Britain
Slovakia (RU)
Poland
Italy (W)









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The most unqualified president-elect in American history is picking the most unqualified candidates to help run America to the ground. The world was warned about this.

— ??????????°??.??*:??? (@lepapillonblue.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 4:41 PM


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Current disposition: Watching My Cousin Vinny. It's got more rule of law than we're gonna see in the next four years.

— Mueller, She Wrote (@muellershewrote.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 4:36 PM


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When Nikki Haley is mocking you for being a fraud and a sellout, that’s when you know it’s really bad because she’s an expert.

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— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 1:53 PM


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All for now. Backspin Awards up next.
Posted by at

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Wk.46.1- Cups (Almost) Runneth Over





Before things are decided in Malaga...





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*WEEK 46.1 CHAMPIONS*
BILLIE JEAN KING CUP PLAYOFFS
[Biel, SUI - HCI] - SUI def. SRB 4-0
[Astana, KAZ - HCI] - KAZ def. KOR 3-1
[Bogota, COL - RCO] - COL def. FRA 3-2 [dd]
[Velenje, NED - RCI] - NED def. SLO 3-1
[Guangzhou, CHN - HC] - CHN def. BEL 3-2 [dd]
[McKinney (Tx), USA - HCI] - UKR def. AUT 3-2 [dd]
[Sao Paulo, BRA - RCI] - BRA def. ARG 3-2 [dd]
[Farum, DEN - HCI] - DEN def. MEX 3-2 [dd](L)
JUNIOR BILLIE JEAN KING CUP FINALS (Antalya, TUR/RCO)
F:USA def. ROU 2-1 [dd]


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JUNIOR STARS: USA Junior BJK Cup Team
...there were more Bannerettes in tour finals (19) than players from any nation since 2016, and the 12 singles champions were the most from any country in a WTA season since 2010. The eight *different* women who lifted trophies was the most varied group of champions since the great Original Hordettes saw nine different winners crowned fourteen years ago. And the junior development continues.

In Antalya (TUR), Team USA won the 16s team title at the Junior Billie Jean King Cup, taking the honors for a third straight year and the sixth time in seven competitions since 2017.

The Bannerettes defeated the Czech Crushers in the final the last two years (as well as in '19), and this year had to face the Czechs in the semis. After a 2-0 sweep, the U.S. defeated Romania 2-1 in the final as Tyra Caterina Grant led the way, going undefeated on the week (6-0 singles, 2-0 doubles), including knotting the tie 1-1 vs. ROU (w/ a 2 & 1 win over Maia Ilinca Burcescu) and then winning the deciding doubles with Julieta Pareja over Burcesca & Giulia Safina Popa, 6-1/7-5.

USA Sweeps Billie Jean King, Junior Davis Cup Titles; Basavareddy Wins Australian Open Wild Card; Fritz Reaches ATP Final; NCAA Draws Posted; Wild Cards Reach W50 Final in Austin: tenniskalamazoo.blogspot.com/2024/11/usa-...

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— Colette Lewis (@zootennis.bsky.social) November 16, 2024 at 9:04 PM

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WHEELCHAIR: Yui Kamiji/JPN
...in a world without Diede...

And that's what they had in Arnhem (NED), as world #1 de Groot, who hadn't played since the Paralymics, was also out of the season-ending Wheelchair Masters event due to injury. De Groot's absence wraps up an odd year for the Dutch superstar roller, as she swept all three major WC singles titles in '24 (and won 2 of 3 WD slam crowns), yet played in just eleven events as she saw her 145-match winning streak end, failed to defend either of her Paralympic Golds, and even lost twice in a row to Yui Kamiji after having won 28 straight against the Japanese veteran.

De Groot won the Masters singles event the last six times it's been played, so her absence once again opened the door for the world #2 to shine. Kamiji dropped just one set over five matches in the event, going 3-0 in round robin play and then defeating Dutch vets Jiske Griffioen and Aniek Van Koot in the SF/F to take the title. Only a love 1st set in the final vs. Van Koot kept Kamiji's singles slate from being completely clean for the week. She charged back to win 0-6/6-4/6-4.

Kamiji's only other Masters singles title came in 2013, and she joins de Groot (2021), Griffioen (2016) and Esther Vergeer (2000, '04 and '08) as the only women who've completed a Paralympics/Masters singles title sweep in a season.

Kamiji closes out 2024 with a 53-2 mark vs. non-de Groot competition (2-4 vs. Diede), and is 145-4 in such matches from 2022-24 with streaks of 74 and 46 match wins. She ends '24 on an overall 13-match winning streak (19-1 run) *and* with that two-match streak over de Groot (her first since 2017) heading into '25.

Because of her slam wins and standing atop the wheelchair world, de Groot is still the clear WC Player of the Year for 2024, but Kamiji made major inroads over the course of the season as her longtime Dutch rival often struggled (even while winning) and missed time. Come January, Kamiji will be as close -- both figuratively and in the literal rankings -- as she's been to de Groot in quite some time.

De Groot will arrive in Melbourne two months from now having won four straight Australian Open titles, and six of the last seven.
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1. WC Doubles Masters Final - Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot def. Wang Ziying/Zhu Zhenwhen
...6-1/6-1. While de Groot and Kamiji post Hall of Fame level results, and Aniek Van Koot just keeps going and going, don't overlook how Griffioen has managed to climb her way back into the conversation at the top of wheelchair tennis in the second phase of her career.

The formerly #1-ranked Dutch veteran (the first ever Wimbledon WC singles champ) retired in mid-2017 after having swept Paralympic Gold in '16, returned in 2020, and is currently ranked #6 in her fifth season back at age 39. This year alone she's grabbed two of her three biggest titles since her return. In January she won a second 2.0 slam doubles crown (AO alongside Diede de Groot, with whom she won Wimbledon in '23, to give her 16 career WD wins), and now claims her eighth Masters doubles crown.

Griffioen's last Masters title was nine years ago in 2015 (also w/ Van Koot). She won her first Masters doubles title *twenty* years ago with Hall of Famer Esther Vergeer, the first of five straight wins for the pair.
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2. WC Masters Doubles SF - Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot def. Dana Mathewson/Manami Tanaka
...6-2/6-1. And thus the career of Mathewson, the *only* U.S. woman to win a major wheelchair crown ('22 Wimbledon doubles), comes to an end.



At least it seems as if there will be at leasts *one* U.S. female WC player of note left behind, as 17-year old Maylee Phelps (the former junior #1) heads up the NextGen teen set alongside Pastry Ksenia Chasteau, 18.
===============================================







*BJK CUP PLAYOFF RECAPS*


While the Finals event has been taking place in Spain, a whole *other* set of BJK ties (8, in fact, using the traditional best-of-5, two-day format) took place from Friday-Sunday in various cities around the globe, as the overly crowded final weekend of Cup play (Finals + Playoffs, as well as the Jr. Finals) identified half of the nations who'll advance into the '25 Qualifiers next spring with a shot to reach *next* year's Finals.

SUI def. SRB 4-0 [Biel, SUI]
MVP: Viktorija Golubic, SUI

...the 2022 Cup champions are back on the proverbial horse, as two of the veterans (Belinda Bencic & Viktorija Golubic) who led the Swiss to the BJK title two years ago grabbed the reigns again in a shutout of the Serbs (who were without their longtime Good Luck Charm -- aka Aleksandra Krunic -- in Biel). Bencic, in just her fifth match back since having a baby, downed Lola Radivojevic 2 & 2 in Match #1, then Golubic (a tour champ in Jiujiang earlier this month) dropped just five total games in consecutive wins over Mia Ristic and Radivojevic to clinch the win. Bencic and Jil Teichmann (another key player in Switzerland's title run) won a dead rubber doubles matches to complete the scoring.




KAZ def. KOR 3-1 [Asatana, KAZ]
MVP: Yulia Putintseva, KAZ

...in probably the least unexpected result of the BJK week, the Kazakhs returned to the '25 Qualifiers by making (mostly) quick work of the South Koreans. Three different women posted singles wins for the nation, including Zarina Diyas (in Cup action for the first time since 2021 and getting her first win since '19 after losing four straight), Elena Rybakina (to finish 43-11 on the year, though with just a 4-3 mark since Wimbledon) and Yulia Putintseva (in for Rybakina to open Day 2), who clinched the victory and avoided the sort of drama -- like losing a match after holding MP, which she did in the spring vs. JPN -- that usually follows her around Cup play, and, you know, most of the tour schedule, too.




COL def. FRA 3-2 (dd) [Bogota, COL]
MVP: Camila Osorio, COL

...the Colombians gave the crowds in Bogota just what they wanted -- a lot of tennis and, ultimately, a win over France. The Pastries put up a fight on foreign ground, with Diane Parry and Clara Burel both posting wins over Emiliana Arango to bookend a pair of singles victories from COL #1 Camila Osorio. Called into action once more, Osorio (already w/ a pair of tour title wins in Bogota in '21 and '24) helped calm nerves and allowed Arango to complete her redemption arc as the pair defeated Burel & Chloe Paquet 3 & 4 to claim victory in the tie. Cue the celebration! (I mean, that *is* the best part of Cup action, right?)




NED def. SLO 3-1 [Velenje, SLO]
MVP: Suzan Lamens, NED

...after Arantxa Rus saved three match points down 7-6/5-2 in Match #1 vs. Tamara Zidansek and went on to win to give the Dutch the early lead, Suzan Lamens (Osaka champ) added another layer to her career year by adding a pair of three-set victories over Veronika Erjavec (to give NED at 2-0 edge) and then Zidansek on Day 2 to clinch the 3-1 road victory for the Netherlands.




CHN def. BEL 3-2 (dd) [Guangzhou, CHN]
MVP: Guo Hanyu/Jiang Xinyu, CHN

...after years of not quite "getting it right" (or not particularly caring to do so), the Chinese roster of talent is finally deep enough to piece together (maybe even accidentally) a unit that can compete at the Cup level. Things got off to a good start for CHN vs. Belgium in a tie that tilted way to the inexperienced side of the ledger, with 20-year old Wei Sijia notching her first career Cup win and Wang Xinyu (at 23 the veteran singles player on the squad) pushing the lead to 2-0 after Day 1. But the Waffles (captained by Iga coach Wim Fissette) threw some youth of their own into the mix on Day 2, with both Sofia Costoulas (19) and Hanne Vandewinkel (20) recording their maiden career singles wins for Team Belgium as a rare comeback from 0-2 down on the road (which hasn't happened in World play since 2015) was suddenly on the table. But in the deciding doubles, Guo Hanyu & Jiang Xinyu -- 1-3 in tour finals together the last two seasons -- defeated the young Belgians 7-6/6-3 to get the win.






UKR def. AUS 3-2 (dd) [McKinney (TX), USA]
MVP: Katarina Zavatska, UKR

...with U.S. support in the stands in Texas (something which won't likely realistically continue on the ground in Ukraine itself for long into '25) in another "home" tie played on neutral ground, the Ukrainians heroically pulled out of a 2-1 Day 2 deficit to stun the Austrians in the deciding doubles. Back-to-back singles wins from Sinja Kraus over Katarina Zavatska and Lesia Tsurenko seemed to have the Austrians in a good place. Re-enter Zavatska, donning a blue-and-yellow cape. The 24-year sent the tie to the doubles with a straight sets win, her first in Cup play since '22, over Julia Grabher, then joined with Nadiia Kichenok to come from behind (again) to defeat Kraus & Tamira Paszek in a 5-7/6-2/6-4 decider on Sunday evening.


BRA def. ARG 3-2 (dd) [Sao Paulo, BRA]
MVP: Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA

...Beatriz Haddad Maia ends her season by having a hand in all three points for Brazil, sending the team back to the BJK Qualifiers in '25. With BRA down 1-0 after Solana Sierra's three-set win over Laura Pigossi, Haddad Maia dug out of a 6-3/4-0 hold (saving two MP at 5-2) vs. Jazmin Ortenzi to knot the tie. Another Haddad Maia win from a set down over Sierra put the Brazilians up 2-1. After Ortenzi sent things to the deciding doubles with a victory over Pigossi, Haddad Maia was back in action again, joining with Carolina Alves to defeat Ortenzi & Julia Riera 3 & 2 to get the win.




DEN def. MEX 3-2 (dd) [Farum, DEN]
MVP: Renata Zarazua, MEX (L)

...the Danes ultimately won this tie with a come-from-behind 2-6/6-4/6-4 win in the deciding doubles from Clara Tauson & Emilie Francati over Giuliana Olmos & Renata Zarazua, but it was the latter Mexican (already having a career season) who starred in Farum. Zarazua's back-to-back Match #2/#3 wins across two days over Johanne Christine Svendsen and Tauson (in a 7-5 3rd) had placed the fate of Team Mexico in the lap of Olmos. But the (mostly) doubles specialist fell in Match #4 to 20-year old Svendson to keep the tie alive. The rest was history.









18yo Nikola Bartunkova accepts a 6-month suspension after testing positive first a banned substance in March. The Czech can begin playing immediately due to "time served" while the investigation took place. www.itia.tennis/news/sanctio...

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— Tick Tock Tennis (@ticktocktennis.bsky.social) November 14, 2024 at 7:10 AM


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*WHEELCHAIR TENNIS MASTERS CHAMPIONS*
[singles]
1994 Monique Kalkman, NED
1995 Monique Kalkman, NED
1996 Chantal Vandierendonck, NED
1997 Maaike Smit, NED
1998 Esther Vergeer, NED
1999 Esther Vergeer, NED
2000 Esther Vergeer, NED
2001 Esther Vergeer, NED
2002 Esther Vergeer, NED
2003 Esther Vergeer, NED
2004 Esther Vergeer, NED
2005 Esther Vergeer, NED
2006 Esther Vergeer, NED
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 Esther Vergeer, NED
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2013 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2014 Aniek van Koot, NED
2015 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
2020 DNP
2021 Diede de Groot, NED
2022 Diede de Groot, NED
2023 Diede de Groot, NED
2024 Yui Kamiji, JPN
[doubles]
2000 Daniela di Toro/Maaike Smit (AUS/NED)
2001 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2002 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2003 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2004 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2005 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2006 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2007 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2008 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer (NED/NED)
2010 Aniek Van Koot/Sharon Walraven (NED/NED)
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven (NED/NED)
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2013 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)
2015 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2016 Diede de Groot/Lucy Shuker (NED/GBR)
2017 Marjolein Buis/Diede de Groot (NED/NED)
2018 Marjolein Buis/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2020 DNP
2021 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2022 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)
2023 Yui Kamiji/Kgothatso Montjane (JPN/RSA)
2024 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED)

*JUNIOR FED CUP/BJK CUP CHAMPIONS [16s] - since 2000*
2000 Czech Republic
2001 Czech Republic
2002 Belarus
2003 Netherlands
2004 Argentina
2005 Poland
2006 Belarus
2007 Australia
2008 United States
2009 Russia
2010 Russia
2011 Australia
2012 United States
2013 Russia
2014 United States
2015 Czech Republic
2016 Poland
2017 United States
2018 United States
2019 United States
2020 DNP
2021 Czech Republic
2022 United States
2023 United States
2024 United States

*RECENT CZECH CUP HISTORY*
[2009-2018]
20 - consecutive indoor tie victories (2010-18)
18 - consecutive tie victories on hard court (2010-18)
11 - consecutive home tie victories (2010-18)
10 - consecutive SF (2009-18)
6 - titles in 8 years (2011-18)
5 - title in 6 years (2011-16)
[2011-current]
12-5 - deciding doubles matches
22-5 - hardcourt ties
6-2 - claycourt ties
25-5 - indoor ties
3-2 - outdoor ties
13-2 - home site ties (w/ '21 BJK Finals event)
10-2 - road site ties
5-3 - neutral site (w/ '23 UKR Q in Antalya)
28-7 - overall tie record





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All for now. BJK Finals recap this week.
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