Britain dispatched defending champions Canada 2-0 to advance to the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals on Sunday following straight units singles wins from Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter.
They’ll play Slovakia for a spot within the last on Tuesday. Poland and Italy will face off within the different semifinal match on Monday.
Raducanu broke within the first recreation as she began off with a bagel in opposition to Rebecca Marino, who made her debut within the occasion in 2011.
The second set went with serve till the 2021 U.S. Open champion broke to steer 6-5 earlier than wrapping up a 6-0, 7-5 victory to offer her staff a 1-0 lead within the contest.
Boulter then sealed their last-four spot as she beat Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-4.
“I understand how powerful she is to beat, I do know what a fighter she is. She makes it so exhausting to shut matches out,” Boulter mentioned of Fernandez.
Fernandez had gained 16 of her earlier 17 Billie Jean King Cup matches, together with all eight she performed final yr as she helped lead Canada to the title.
“You have simply received to maintain going, preserve believing, again your self it doesn’t matter what, not give her something, and never present her that you are a little bit nervous,” Boulter added.
“I believe that is what I used to be on the finish. However I simply saved going for my pictures and trusted them and managed to get it carried out the second time.”
Britain are one among solely 4 nations — alongside Australia, France and Italy — to have competed within the match each season because it was launched in 1963.
Nevertheless, they’re the one a type of groups to have by no means lifted the trophy, shedding in 4 finals.
“I positively would not be right here if I did not consider we might win the match. I believe now we have received an amazing staff. We have all the time received an amazing likelihood. We will be in with the final 4,” Boulter mentioned.
Earlier on Sunday Slovakia knocked out Australia to maneuver into the semifinals for the primary time since 2002 after singles victories by Viktoria Hruncakova and Rebecca Sramkova gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Hruncakova overcame Kimberly Birrell with a hardfought 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-3 win in a match lasting two hours and half-hour.
Hruncakova, 126 locations beneath Birrell within the rankings, hit 32 winners whereas the Australian made 37 unforced errors.
World No. 43 Sramkova shocked Ajla Tomljanovic with a ruthless efficiency, beating the previous Wimbledon and U.S. Open quarterfinalist 6-1, 6-2. Tomljanovic was combating a knee difficulty.
Slovakia had shocked report 18-times champions the US on Thursday to succeed in the quarterfinals.
