Spain and Czechia have booked the first Billie Jean King Cup semifinal in Shenzhen after navigating contrasting quarterfinal routes, with Spain surviving a deciding doubles rubber and Czechia completing a 2-0 sweep of Great Britain.
Key takeaways
- Czechia defeated Great Britain 2-0, making the doubles match unnecessary.
- Marie Bouzkova outlasted Sonay Kartal 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4 in the opening singles rubber.
- Linda Noskova followed with a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory over Katie Boulter.
- Spain beat Kazakhstan through a deciding doubles win from Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo.
- Spain will meet Czechia in the semifinal on Friday, September 25.
- Kazakhstan competed without world No. 1 Elena Rybakina, who withdrew to recover physically.
Czechia sweeps Britain as Spain wins doubles decider
Czechia’s place in the last four was built on two singles victories. Bouzkova gave her team the opening point but had to withstand a determined challenge from Kartal, taking the first set in a tiebreak before Britain forced a decider. Bouzkova regained control in the third set to close out a 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4 result.
Wimbledon champion Noskova then put Czechia through with a more direct performance against Boulter. She claimed the first set 6-2 and held firm in the second-set tiebreak to win 6-2, 7-6(3).
Karolina Muchova and Katerina Siniakova had been selected for a potential doubles rubber against Jodie Anna Burrage and Harriet Dart, but Czechia’s two singles points meant the match was not required.
Spain’s tie with Kazakhstan went the full distance. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro gave Spain an early lead with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 defeat of world No. 384 Sonja Zhiyenbayeva.
Kazakhstan responded when Yulia Putintseva overturned Cristina Bucsa 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, sending the quarterfinal into the deciding doubles contest. Bucsa returned alongside Sorribes Tormo and the Spanish pair delivered under pressure, beating Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva 6-2, 7-5 to seal the tie.
Kazakhstan were without Rybakina, who announced earlier in the week that she would not take part in this year’s finals. The US Open champion said she was disappointed to miss Shenzhen and its crowd, but explained that a demanding recent month had left her needing time to recover before competing again.
Shenzhen draw and remaining schedule
The Czechia-Spain semifinal is scheduled for Friday, September 25. The other half of the draw will be decided by Thursday’s remaining quarterfinals, with Belgium facing Ukraine and hosts China taking on two-time defending champions Italy.
The second semifinal is set for Saturday, September 26, before the Billie Jean King Cup final takes place on Sunday, September 27.
