Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Canada will not be advancing to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals after losing 3-1 to host Kazakhstan in a qualifying tie.
Kazakhstan won both of Saturday’s opening games to clinch the best-of-five women’s international tennis showdown in Astana.
Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva defeated Bianca Andreescu and Kayla Cross 7-5, 6-1 in a doubles match.
Yulia Putintseva then clinched the tie with a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (4) win over Andreescu in a match that lasted three hours 39 minutes.
The teams entered Saturday tied at 1-1 after splitting the opening singles matches.
Kazakhstan advances to September’s Finals, while Canada, which won the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023, will compete in the 2026 playoffs in November.
Watch day two doubles action of the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers tie between Canada and Kazakhstan from Astana.
Great Britain advances
Great Britain advanced to the Finals when doubles pair Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage beat Australia’s Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the teams’ best-of-five matchup Saturday in Melbourne.
The visitors had built a 2-0 lead Friday when 17-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic beat Talia Gibson 7-6 (4), 7-5, and Dart topped Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in singles matches at John Cain Arena.
In a consolation win, 17-year-old Australian Emerson Jones beat Katie Swan 7-5, 6-3 to make the score 3-1.
The finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, a women’s team tournament formerly called the Fed Cup, will be held in Shenzhen in September. Host nation China qualified automatically.
Five other finalists will be determined Saturday: defending champion Italy vs. Japan; Switzerland vs. Czech Republic; Slovenia vs. Spain; Belgium vs. United States; Poland vs. Ukraine.
The losing teams will compete in November’s Billie Jean King Cup Cup playoffs, which determines qualifiers for 2027.
Source link
