"Hopefully she's not going to play that well" - Iga Swiatek not looking past Paula Badosa ahead of Billie Jean King Cup showdown

Former World No.1 Iga Swiatek will wrap up her season following the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Malaga, which will see the Polish star kick off her campaign in a tie against Spain on November 13, 2024.

The reigning Roland Garros champion will lead her native Poland as they battle for national glory at the Billie Jean King Cup. Standing in their path is Spain, who will feature former World No.2 Paula Badosa in it's line-up.

Badosa had been battling injuries over the past two years, seeing her ranking drop outside of the top 100. However, the Spanish star enjoyed a productive 2024 season, winning her second WTA 500 title at the Citi Open. She would subsequently reach the US Open quarterfinals and make semifinal appearances in Beijing and Ningbo.

During a press conference in Malaga, Swiatek heaped praise on Badosa, stating she was glad to see her back competing with the best. Additionally, the five-time Grand Slam champion gave a hint on her gameplan were they to face each other at the Billie Jean King Cup.

"If nothing strange happens, you're going to play against Paula Badosa. How have you seen her comeback this year? Do you think she can be amongst the top again?” asked a reporter.

“For sure, you know, Paula has the game and the motivation to do that," said Swiatek. "I was actually, you know, looking at her journey, and I was kind of worried if she was going to be able to come back, because obviously her injuries weren't easy and smooth, and sometimes she tried but it wasn't working.
"So honestly, I was super happy to see her back playing her tennis on these tournaments, on US Open, you know, and plenty of others. Yeah, she's a really, really nice person, and I felt like, you know, she's really pushing to be back.
"Anybody who has this kind of grit and determination, you know, deserves to be there. Hopefully she's gonna continue that. But we'll see this week. I'm probably going to focus on myself, and hopefully she's not going to play that well (smiling). We'll see."