In the regional group competitions of the Billie Jean King Cup played this week, countries to be promoted or relegated were confirmed on Saturday.
Denmark bagged the last spot in the Play-offs in Europe/Africa Group I action in Oeiras, Portugal, joining the Netherlands, Austria and Serbia after a thrilling final day.
Clara Tauson secured a stunning win against Greece’s Maria Sakkari on Friday to put Denmark in contention for a Play-off spot, and she was a key player once again as her team beat Latvia, 2-0, on Saturday.
Denmark’s success was kick-started by impressive 19-year-old Johanne Christine Svendsen, who beat 16-year-old Adelina Lachinova, 6-3 7-5.
Tauson then sealed victory when her opponent, Darja Semenistaja, was forced to retire after the Danish player won the first set 6-1.
The win extended Tauson’s record to an impressive 14-4 in singles in the BJK Cup play.
In the battle between the top two nations in Europe/Africa Group I, the Netherlands sealed a 2-1 win against Austria.
With both nations already assured of a place in November’s Play-offs, this was a chance to finish off a successful week with an emphatic win, and a tense doubles match decided the outcome, when Suzan Lamens & Demi Schuurs outgunned Sinja Kraus & Tamira Paszek, 7-5 6-3.
Two-time former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Paszek has been a stand-out performer for Austria over the last few days, and she completed a perfect week of singles wins by beating Anouk Koevermans, 6-2 6-3, to record her 12th singles win in the Billie Jean King Cup.
The Austrian has had health issues that have forced her back to the bottom of the tennis ladder, with fine performances representing her country in recent days certain to boost her confidence as she looks to climb the rankings once again.
Paszek’s brilliance was not enough to give Austria a win against the Netherlands, as Sinja Kraus lost against Suzan Lamens, 6-3 6-1, forcing the tie into a decisive doubles.
Serbia will join the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark in the Play-offs in November after they topped Pool C.
Türkiye wrapped up 7th place as they secured a win against Hungary, with Portugal avoiding relegation after a tense win against Bulgaria.
This match was decided in doubles, with the Jorge sisters Francisca & Matilde, teaming up to get the crucial win.
It meant Bulgaria joined Norway in being relegated to Europe/Africa Group II.
Click HERE for all the scores from Europe Africa I
In Americas Group I, hosts Colombia joined Argentina in the Play-offs
Billie Jean King Cup
In Americas Group I, it was Colombia who joins Argentina in the Play-offs after a thrilling final day of action in Bogota, the host nation knowing that a win against an unbeaten Argentine side would cement top spot in Pool A, and they duly delivered in a contest that needed a decisive doubles match to produce a winner.
Yuliana Lizarazo’s 9th singles win in the Billie Jean King Cup gave Colombia the perfect start as she beat World No 168 Martina Capurro Taborda, 6-4 6-4.
It was a huge upset for Lizarazo, ranked 1297, yet the home fans were forced to wait for their moment of victory as Julia Riera made her class tell with a 6-2 6-1 win against Maria Paulina Perez-Garcia in the second rubber.
That set up a crucial doubles match, with Lizarazo & Perez-Garcia teaming up to beat Julieta Lara Estable & Riera, 5-7 6-2 [10-7] amid jubilant scenes.
The Colombian team completed a celebratory lap of honour around the court after their victory, as they sealed a Play-off place after defying some huge ranking advantages for the Argentine team.
In the other matches played on Saturday, Chile secured a 3-0 victory against Peru to confirm they will remain in Americas Group I.
Daniela Seguel won the decision match for Chile, as she beat 21-year-old Romina Ccuno, 6-2 6-3, with 17-year-old Antonia Vergara Rivera, ranked 14 in the ITF Junior world rankings, getting her second win in the BJK Cup singles with a 6-3 6-0 win against 16-year-old Francesca Maguina Bunikowska in the opening match of the tie.
The defeat for Peru cemented their relegation to Americas Group II in 2025.
Finally, already relegated Ecuador suffered a straight defeat of the week, as they were beaten 2-1 by Venezuela.
Venezuela’s Andrea Gamiz has enjoyed a strong week in Bogota, and she won her second singles match in Pool A with a 6-2 6-0 victory against Ecuador teenager Valentina Ponce Serrano.
Gamiz then teamed up with 14-year-old Sabrina Balderrama to seal the decisive doubles match, as they beat Serrano & Camila Romero, 6-2 7-5.
Balderrama made history with her appearance in this week’s Americas Group I matches, as she became the youngster player to represent Venezuela in the Billie Jean King Cup.
Colombia and Argentina will now look forward to the Play-offs draw, where they will get a chance to continue their journey into next year’s Qualifiers.
Click HERE for all all the scores from Americas Group I
China PR and Korea Rep head to the Play-offs after yet another thrilling final day of action at Moon Island Clay Park in Asia/Oceania Group I action at Changsha, China
Billie Jean King Cup
Asia/Oceania Group I saw China PR and Korea Rep head to the Play-offs after yet another thrilling final day of action at Moon Island Clay Park in Changsha, China
India had the chance to seal second spot in Pool A and book their place in the Play-offs, but a defeat against New Zealand ended their hopes and Korea, Rep. secured the spot.
It seemed as if India was on course to secure their progress to the Play-offs for the first time since 2021 when Rutuja Bhosale beat New Zealand’s Monique Barry, 6-2 7-6(5), but Ankita Raina lost, 6-2 6-0, against Lulu Sun in a contest where she held serve on just two occasions.
Raina & Prarthana Thombare then lost the decisive doubles match against Paige Hourigan & Erin Routliffe to leave Korea, Rep to claim the final promotion spot.
It was a cruel ending for a spirited Indian side that secured a valuable win against Korea, Rep in their encounter on Friday, with both nations finishing with a record of 3 wins and two defeats in Pool A.
Korea, Rep progress on account of the number of match-wins they achieved over their 5 matches, with 11 compared to India’s 8.
It was another positive day for hosts China, who concluded a perfect run of results in Pool A in front of their home fans by beating Korea, Rep. in a decisive doubles contest.
World No 56 Zhu Lin set China on their way to victory with a 6-2 6-3 win against Dabin Kim, ranked 682, before Korea, Rep were given hope of mounting a come-back when Wang Xiyu was forced to withdraw from her match against Sohyun Park.
The tie was decided by the doubles, and Hanyu Guo teamed up with Wang to secure a 6-0 6-0 victory against Kim & Park to complete a clean sweep of 5 straight wins as they topped the group.
China will now be a nation to watch in the Play-offs later this year, with their World No 7 Zheng Qinwen not playing this week, and No 38 Yuan Yue another player that could return to a team that performed so well on home soil.
India and New Zealand will be back in Asia/Oceania Group I once again after finishing 3rd and 4th respectively, while Chinese Taipei and Pacific Oceania have been relegated to Asia/Oceania Group II.
Click HERE for all the results in Asia/Oceania I
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