Britain beats Australia to advance to Billie Jean King Cup finals

VELLETRI, Italy — Britain booked its place in September’s Billie Jean King Cup finals with a 3-1 victory over Australia in Melbourne, joining defending champion Italy and six other nations that advanced through this weekend’s qualifying ties.

The British win, sealed on Australian soil, adds another chapter to the long-standing rivalry between the two nations and ensures Britain will be part of the 2025 finals lineup in Shenzhen.

Italy, chasing a third consecutive crown, cruised past Japan 3-1 in Velletri. Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani delivered the clinching point, defeating Eri Hozumi and Shuko Aoyama 6-2, 7-5 on the Italians’ favored clay.

Elsewhere, Kazakhstan ousted 2023 champion Canada 3-1 in Astana, Ukraine swept Poland 4-0 in Gliwice to reach the finals for a second straight year, Spain and the Czech Republic also progressed, and host nation China qualified automatically.

The most surprising exit came in Ostend, where Belgium eliminated 18-time champion United States 3-1. After taking a 2-0 lead on Friday behind singles wins from Hanne Vandewinkel and Elise Mertens, Belgium clinched the tie when Greet Minnen, ranked 149th, upset 16th-ranked Iva Jovic 7-5, 6-3. Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar had kept American hopes alive with a doubles win earlier on Saturday, but Minnen’s upset sealed Belgium’s celebrations.

“We are such a small country and it means a lot,” Mertens said. “First of all, however, we are going to celebrate tonight.”

The finals field is now set: Italy, Britain, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, and host China will compete in Shenzhen this September.