MADRID, 14 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The women’s teams from Germany, Australia, Great Britain, Poland, Slovakia, Japan, Romania and the United States secured their place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for Gainbridge 2024, which will be played in November in Seville, after sealing their victories in this weekend’s Qualifiers.
In this way, they will join Canada (2023 world champions), Canada (2023 runners-up), Italy, Spain (host country), and Czechia (guest nation) in the Andalusian capital.
The resounding victory of world number 1, Iga Swiatek, over Simona Waltert put Poland on the path to qualification, which they achieved with a 4-0 victory against Switzerland. Slovakia and the United States added identical results against Slovenia and Belgium.
Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo, Brazil did not achieve a comeback against Germany. Laura Siegemund surprised Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first singles, and although Haddad recovered in the second singles, she was not enough and she lost 3-1 to the Germans.
For her part, Naomi Osaka returned to the competition with a victory over Putintseva, which, together with the other two achieved by Nao Hibino against Danilina and Putintseva herself, were enough to close Japan’s victory against Kazakhstan.
In Le Portel (France), Emma Raducanu secured Great Britain’s 3-1 victory over France, after Katie Boulter beat Clara Burel in straight sets to put the visitors 2-1 up. Meanwhile, Romania will compete for the first time in the final after beating Ukraine 3-2 in Fernandina Beach (Florida).
For its part, Australia beat Mexico on the second day of its home tie. In Brisbane, 18-year-old Taylah Preston claimed a 6-1 6-1 victory over Marcela Zacarias to seal her nation’s place in Seville in her Billie Jean King Cup debut. A doubles victory by Ellen Perez and Daria Saville capped a 4-0 tie for the hosts.
Additionally, Austria, Argentina, Colombia, China, PR, Denmark, South Korea, Netherlands and Serbia advanced from the regional events from Group I to the November ‘Play-offs’, where they will compete for a place in the 2025 Qualifiers along with this weekend’s losing nations: Belgium, Brazil, Slovenia, France, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Croatia and Lithuania achieved promotion from Europe/Africa Group II to Europe/Africa Group I. The remaining regional group events at the Group II level and below will be played later in the season.