Slovakia beat Britain to meet Italy in Billie Jean King Cup title match

MALAGA – Slovakia swept past Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup semi-final doubles decider on Nov 19 to seal a 2-1 victory and set up a title showdown with Italy.

Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova saw off British duo Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 in the decisive rubber. Slovakia face 2023 runners-up Italy in the final on Nov 20.

“I cried like a baby but now I’m very calm and ready for tomorrow,” said an emotional Mihalikova.

“We need one more win, then we can touch the trophy.”

Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open in 2021, won the opening singles tie 6-4, 6-4 against Hruncakova to keep four-time runners-up Britain’s hopes of a first final in 43 years alive.

But Rebecca Sramkova’s comeback from a set down to beat British No. 1 Katie Boulter 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 forced a decisive doubles rubber.

Hruncakova said: “Emma played absolutely amazing, so I did not feel bad after the match.

“And I was very hopeful that Rebecca could make a point for us and that we can play a deciding doubles. And that happened.

“It was the best doubles of our lives.”

Slovakia are into their second final, having lifted the trophy in 2002.

On Nov 18, Jasmine Paolini’s Italy reached a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iga Swiatek’s Poland.

The four-time winners, who lost to Canada a year ago, last lifted the women’s team trophy in 2013.

“We are just enjoying every match, we have got nothing to lose, we’re just trying to do our best,” said Sramkova.

“I don’t think the (doubles) girls have the pressure, I don’t have the pressure either, because we’re underdogs.”

Raducanu opened the first set with a break against Hruncakova, ranked 238th in the world, 180 places beneath her.

The Briton led 5-2 with another break in the fifth game before Hruncakova found her footing.

The Slovakian saved a set point, breaking back for 5-3 and then consolidating as Raducanu wobbled but then closed out comfortably on her serve.

Sidelined with a foot injury since mid-September until this week, the 22-year-old at times struggled with her opponent’s power but was otherwise superior.

Raducanu broke in the fifth and seventh games to serve for the set but could not polish it off at the first opportunity as Hruncakova resisted.

She eventually sealed her victory with a strong serve which the Slovakian could not return.

“Today was a really, really tough battle,” said Raducanu, who enjoyed strong British support in the arena.

“(She) has a huge ball strike, and despite her rank she plays much above that.”

World No. 24 Boulter and her 43rd-ranked opponent exchanged breaks at the start of the first set before the Briton took control with another break, which she consolidated for a 3-1 lead.

Boulter secured a double break for a 5-2 advantage and served it out, capitalising on her third set point with an ace.

Sramkova held to love in the first game of a far stronger second set for the Slovak, in which she secured three breaks to Boulter’s two.

It was the first set the British had dropped in Malaga. Another was to follow, with Sramkova converting her second match point as Boulter sent a backhand wide. AFP, REUTERS