Czechia reached the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals by beating Great Britain 2–0 in the quarterfinals in Shenzhen, the Guardian (opens in new tab) reported on Sept. 22. Linda Noskova, the Wimbledon champion, sealed the tie with a 6–2, 7–6 (3) win over Katie Boulter after Marie Bouzková outlasted Sonay Kartal 7–6 (2), 4–6, 6–4 in a match lasting nearly three hours.
Britain’s stay at the finals lasted one match. Captain Anne Keothavong’s side had reached the last four in four of the previous five years but entered as underdogs; the entire Czech team was ranked higher than any British player, the Guardian (opens in new tab) said. Kartal was playing her first match in six months after a stress fracture in her back at Indian Wells.
Separately, Spain advanced to Friday’s semifinals with a 2–1 quarterfinal win over Kazakhstan, Tennis Now (opens in new tab) reported on Sept. 23—Spain’s first BJK Cup semifinal since 2008. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro swept Sonja Zhiyenbayeva 6–2, 6–2; Yulia Putintseva beat Cristina Bucsa 6–2, 3–6, 6–1 to level the tie; then Sara Sorribes Tormo and Bucsa clinched doubles 6–2, 7–5 over Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva.
Tennis Now (opens in new tab) noted that world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the event with an Achilles injury, forcing Zhiyenbayeva into singles. Spain, seeking a sixth title, will face 11-time champion Czechia in the semifinals—the second straight season the sides have met in the competition, Tennis Now (opens in new tab) said.
The Guardian (opens in new tab) also noted Britain’s Davis Cup team will face Germany in the November quarterfinals in Bologna after a 4–0 win over Ecuador—a related but separate men’s storyline.