SPAIN’S WIN OVER KAZAKHSTAN KEEPS GREAT BRITAIN IN THE RUN FOR THE SEMIFINALS AT THE BILLIE JEAN KING CUP FINALS
After Spain’s victory against Kazakhstan in Glasgow, Great Britain’s chances of advancing out of Group C in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals remain alive.
Kazakhstan beat the British team 2-1 in the initial round, and a win against Spain would have given them first place.
However, the tie was broken with singles victories by Nuria Parrizas Diaz and Paula Badosa.
With this outcome, a victory by Spain versus Great Britain on Thursday would guarantee qualification for Spain.
SPAIN BEATS KAZAKHSTAN
Given that Spain won both the doubles and the match against Kazakhstan, Great Britain would need to win the match against Spain 3-0 while also having won more sets.
The United States of America got off to a winning start as Danielle Collins defeated Magdalena Frech of Poland in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2)).
Since Coco Gauff had to quickly regroup after the WTA Finals in Texas, she was left off of the U.S. singles squad on the first day.
Switzerland defeated Italy by a score of 3-0 in their first match.
Last year’s runner-up Switzerland took the lead as Jil Teichmann averted a match point against Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
At 5-2 down against the world no. 65 in the last set, it seemed as if Teichmann may lose for the first time in nine singles and doubles matches at the event.
She fought off a match point on her own serve and went on to break serve in the next game.
Despite being broken again, Teichmann prevailed 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5). (5).
After Teichmann’s triumph, Belinda Bencic defeated Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-3, and the two went on to win the doubles match in straight sets.
Because to Slovakia’s 2-1 victory against Belgium, the fate of Group B qualifying now rests solely on the shoulders of the winner between Australia and Belgium in the last match.
After world No. 100 Viktoria Kuzmova defeated Ysaline Bonaventure 6-2, 7-6(7), The 81st-ranked player in the world was defeated by Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Finally, Maryna Zanevska won in three sets, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. The doubles match went to Belgium, who ended up winning.
Only the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, so a win for Australia in their second match against Belgium would guarantee them a spot in the next round. A win for Belgium would require a perfect 3-0 score, or a tiebreaker based on set victories would determine the group winners if Belgium won by a score of 2-1.
