US battle past Kazakhstan to set up BJK Cup semi-final against Britain

The US stayed on course for a record-extending 19th Billie Jean King Cup crown after Taylor Townsend and Jessica Pegula won the doubles decider to edge out Kazakhstan 2-1 on Thursday and set up a semi-final clash with Britain.

The tie hung in the balance after American Emma Navarro had dramatically saved two match points to outlast Yulia Putintseva 7-5 2-6 7-6(6), only for an aggressive Elena Rybakina to level matters by dismantling world number seven Pegula 6-4 6-1.

Kazakhstan, eyeing their first final appearance, then rolled the dice by selecting Rybakina and Putintseva for the decisive doubles clash.

But the Americans -- spearheaded by doubles world number one Townsend -- had other plans when skipper Lindsay Davenport teamed her up with Pegula.

The US pair survived an early scare when they stared down three break points at 0-40 in their opening service game, but managed to hold serve before seizing control.

While Pegula patrolled the baseline, Townsend proved clinical at the net as both Rybakina and Putintseva dropped serve, helping the Americans pocket the first set.

Although Kazakhstan struck first in the second with an early break, the US broke back immediately and forced a tiebreak which they dominated to seal a 6-2 7-6(1) victory.

“I haven’t played with Taylor in such a long time, so that was fun to get back playing with her,” said Pegula, a former doubles world number one.

“I always love playing with a lefty. Makes my life a lot easier. I think our games complement each other really well. She’s an amazing doubles player. She could probably play with anybody.”

BRITAIN BEAT JAPAN

Britain are also seeking their first BJK Cup title and they cruised past Japan when Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter won their singles matches.

Kartal, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time this year, gave Britain the lead with a 6-3 7-6(4) victory over Ena Shibahara.

Japan’s hopes of salvaging the tie fell on the shoulders of Moyuka Uchijima but she was no match for Boulter, who wrapped up a comfortable 6-2 6-1 victory in 68 minutes.

“Sonay put in a clinical performance so she makes it easy to follow,” Boulter said.

“I stayed out there as much as possible and tried to focus on myself. I am super happy to be through and it is nice to have some British fans here.

“I am so pleased. This team qualified earlier in the year and we showed a lot of heart. The team deserves to be here and hopefully, we can go to the final. Hopefully, this is our time now.”

Swiatek faces Krejcikova in Korea Open quarters

Iga Swiatek blew off the cobwebs from her US Open disappointment to ease into a quarter-final against battling Barbora Krejcikova at the Korea Open on Thursday.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek was never in serious trouble as she beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-2 in Seoul.

World number two Swiatek was stunned in straight sets by eventual finalist Amanda Anisimova in the last eight a fortnight ago at New York, where she triumphed in 2022.

“For sure, the conditions are much different from our last tournament,” the Pole told the crowd in the South Korean capital, where there has been heavy rain this week.

“Happy that I could adjust quickly. I really love it here, it’s beautiful when it’s not raining, so happy to be here.”

Swiatek, whose father Tomasz competed in rowing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, sealed the first set against Cirstea in 49 minutes on her sixth set point.

The top seed carried that momentum into the second set, breaking the Romanian immediately and, despite a few wobbles, Swiatek sealed the match with minimum fuss.

The 24-year-old, who is chasing a 25th WTA singles title, will play Krejcikova after the unseeded Czech battled back to beat Emma Raducanu 4-6, 7-6 (12/10), 6-1.

Britain’s Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion and eighth seed in Seoul, squandered three match points as two-time former major champion Krejcikova prevailed in a late-night thriller.

Also into the quarter-finals on Friday is second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who plays unseeded Ella Seidel of Germany.

Agencies