Romania staged an astonishing fightback to shatter war-torn Ukraine’s hopes of reaching the Billie Jean King Cup finals for the primary time on Saturday as Naomi Osaka’s Japan booked a maiden place within the championship decider.
Ukraine, compelled to play their residence ties on impartial floor, had been comfortably 2-0 forward in a single day in Florida in opposition to a Romania facet lacking prime participant Sorana Cirstea in addition to former Wimbledon and French Open champion Simona Halep.
Nevertheless, Ana Bogdan claimed a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over prime 20 star Elina Svitolina regardless of trailing 2-0 within the deciding set.
Bogdan, ranked 64, battled again, successful a 20-point recreation after which serving out the match with ease.
“I gave my coronary heart on the market,” mentioned the 31-year-old.
Jacqueline Cristian then levelled the tie at 2-2 with a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over veteran Lesia Tsurenko.
With the stability of energy shifting, Bogdan and Cristian defeated twin sisters Lyudmyla and Nadia Kichenok 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) within the deciding doubles to safe a dramatic 3-2 victory and a debut place within the finals in November.
Japan additionally made the finals by seeing off Kazakhstan in Tokyo with Nao Hibino sealing the victory because of a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7) win over world quantity 50 Yulia Putintseva.
– ‘OK for me to win’ –
4-time main winner and former world primary Naomi Osaka sat out Saturday’s motion having helped set Japan on their technique to a 2-0 lead within the best-of-five sequence on Friday with victory over Putintseva.
Osaka was enjoying within the event for the primary time since 2020 having missed all of final 12 months to offer start to her first youngster.
“I began questioning if it was OK for me to win my match — there have been a variety of followers wanting ahead to watching Osaka,” joked world quantity 79 Hibino.
“It was blended feelings however I actually needed to clinch the win.”
Emma Raducanu, affected by again, wrist, abdomen and ankle accidents since her 2021 US Open title, defeated Diane Parry 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/1) to safe victory for Britain over France at Le Portal.
Raducanu, whose rating has plunged to 302 on the earth, had already defeated French primary Caroline Garcia on Friday as the 2 sides have been locked 1-1 in a single day.
Katie Boulter then nudged Britain in entrance on Saturday by beating Clara Burel 7-5, 6-0.
Victory was Britain’s first on clay since April 2007.
“The gamers have performed it, the group have labored collectively very well, and we deserve our spot within the finals. That is the place I consider this group belongs,” mentioned Britain skipper Anne Keothavong.
World primary Iga Swiatek defeated Swiss 18-year-old Celine Naef 6-4, 6-3 to ship Poland, 2-0 forward in a single day in Biel, again to the finals.
Swiatek reeled off six straight video games to steer 6-4, 4-0, placing her group on the point of sweeping 2022 champions Switzerland.
Naef, ranked 148, bought again on serve at 4-3 however four-time main champion Swiatek raced away with the subsequent two video games for victory.
– Pegula in hurry –
World quantity 5 Jessica Pegula wanted simply 51 minutes to defeat Hanne Vandewinkel 6-2, 6-0 as the USA, the 18-time champions, claimed victory over Belgium in Florida.
“I believe all people right here can see the extent that Jess is able to,” mentioned US skipper Lindsay Davenport after seeing her prime participant hearth 21 winners previous the 19-year-old Belgian.
Seven-time champions Australia surged into the finals with victory over Mexico in Brisbane, handing Samantha Stosur a successful begin to her reign as captain.
Taylah Preston, simply 18, swept previous the skilled Marcela Zacarias, 12 years her senior, 6-1, 6-1.
In Bratislava, 16-year-old Australian Open junior champion Renata Jamrichova secured Slovakia’s win over Slovenia. {The teenager} beat world 203 Veronika Erjavec 6-2, 6-0.
Two-time champions Germany edged out Brazil 3-1 in Sao Paulo when Laura Siegemund noticed off Carolina Alves in three units.
The eight successful international locations advance to November’s 12-team finals in Seville the place they be part of hosts Spain, defending champions Canada, 2023 runners-up Italy and wildcard Czech Republic.
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