BELGIUM knocked out 18-time champion the US to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Saturday, as Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, Ukraine and Czech Republic also secured places in the season-ending team event alongside host China.
Belgium sealed qualification in Ostend, where world number 149 Greet Minnen completed the upset with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Iva Jovic, sending her team back to the finals for the first time since 2022.
Britain booked its spot with a 3-1 win against Australia in Melbourne, wrapping up the tie with victory in the doubles after taking a commanding 2-0 lead from Friday’s singles matches.
Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage sealed the contest with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez, ending the Australian pair’s unbeaten doubles run in the Billie Jean King Cup dating back to November 2022.
Champion Italy also progressed after a 3-1 home win over Japan on clay in Velletri. Holding a 2-0 advantage overnight, Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani clinched the tie by defeating Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi, 6-2, 7-5 in the doubles.
Ukraine booked a return to the finals for a second straight year with a dominant 4-0 victory over Poland in Gliwice.
Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok secured the decisive point with a 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-3 win over Maja Chwalinska and Martyna Kubka, and then Oleksandra Oliynykova completed a perfect couple of days for Ukraine with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Linda Klimovicova. — Reuters
