Four-time finalist Great Britain advanced to the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals for the second straight year after defeating Japan 2-0 in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Despite missing their top-ranked player Emma Raducanu, Britain clinched both singles matches in straight sets to set up a semifinal clash with the United States, the tournament’s most successful nation.
Kartal gives Britain the perfect start
Britain’s Sonay Kartal opened the tie with a strong start, racing to a 4-0 lead against Japan’s Ena Shibahara before closing out the first set 6-3.
The second set was tighter, with both players unable to break the other’s serve, forcing a tiebreak. Shibahara jumped to a 3-1 lead before Kartal rallied to earn triple match point. The 23-year-old Brit, ranked No. 82, sealed a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win on her second opportunity. Kartal had also won both her matches on her Billie Jean King Cup debut in April.
Boulter seals the victory with easy win
Britain’s Katie Boulter, ranked No. 55, then dominated Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-1, 6-2 in the second singles to secure her nation’s place in the last four. Uchijima, ranked No. 92, struggled to find rhythm as Boulter’s solid baseline play proved too strong.
Semifinal lineup set
Great Britain will face the United States in Saturday’s semifinal. Earlier Thursday, Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend clinched the deciding doubles match to give the U.S. a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan. On Friday, in the first semifinal, five-time champion Italy will meet Ukraine, who like Britain is also seeking its first Billie Jean King Cup title.
Italy scored a 2-0 win over China while Ukraine overcame Spain by an identical score in the quarterfinals earlier in the week.
AloJapan.com