Kazakhstan has become the first nation to secure its place at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in September, thanks to Elena Rybakina`s decisive victory on Friday. Canada and Ukraine also began their qualifying campaigns impressively with victories.
With Kazakhstan confirmed, the lineup for the Finals is beginning to solidify. Six more teams will qualify from this week`s matches, joining reigning champion Italy and host nation China in Shenzhen for the final tournament.
Interestingly, all ties played so far this week have been decided in the singles matches, with each of the ten ties on Thursday and Friday concluding after just two singles matches.
Day 2 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers Round-Up:
Group A: Canada Defeats Romania 3-0
Canada`s young tennis talents shone in their opening Group A tie. 18-year-old Victoria Mboko defeated Miriam Bulgaru 6-1, 6-4, and 20-year-old Marina Stakusic overcame Anca Todoni 6-4, 6-3.
Rebecca Marino and Kayla Cross secured a doubles win for Canada, completing a clean sweep of the tie. Canada remains in contention to win their second Billie Jean King Cup title within three years.
Stakusic, a key player in Canada`s historic 2023 BJK Cup victory, described her singles match as `high-quality`, noting Todoni`s strength and her own focus on fighting for every point. Group A`s final standings are still to be determined with two ties remaining.
Group B: Spain Overpowers Brazil 3-0
For Spain, a five-time champion nation, their first tie was a resounding success. Sara Sorribes Tormo defeated Laura Pigossi 6-3, 7-5, and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro prevailed against Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, giving Spain a 2-0 lead. Sorribes Tormo and Cristina Bucsa then won the doubles, securing a 3-0 victory.
Spain dominated the Billie Jean King Cup in the 1990s, winning five titles that decade with stars like Grand Slam champions Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez.
Spain will now face 11-time champions Czech Republic on Saturday to decide the winner of Group B and who advances to the Finals. Brazil is eliminated from contention.
Group C: Slovakia Edges Out Denmark 2-0
Slovakia, the 2002 champions, had to work hard for their victory in the first Group C tie. Viktoria Hruncakova beat Rebecca Munk Mortensen 6-4, 6-3 in the opening match.
The second singles match was unexpectedly tight. World No. 37 Rebecca Sramkova battled for 3 hours and 10 minutes to defeat world No. 698 Johanne Christine Svendsen 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3.
Group C remains open, with 18-time champions United States yet to play their first match. They will face Denmark on Saturday and Slovakia on Sunday.
Group D: Kazakhstan Advances Past Colombia 3-0
Kazakhstan has secured their place in Shenzhen for the Finals, winning Group D and eliminating Colombia and Australia. Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva, both Top 25 players, delivered dominant performances on Friday.
Putintseva swiftly defeated Valentina Mediorreal Arias 6-0, 6-1 in just 37 minutes. Wimbledon 2022 champion Rybakina followed up with a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Yuliana Lizarazo in 51 minutes.
Colombia put up a fight in the doubles, but Zarina Diyas and Zhibek Kulambayeva secured a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win for Kazakhstan, completing the 3-0 sweep.
Group E: Ukraine Triumphes Over Poland 3-0
After Poland`s win on Thursday, Ukraine rebounded strongly on Friday. Ukraine’s Top 25 players secured singles wins against Poland, making Group E highly competitive.
Marta Kostyuk defeated Katarzyna Kawa 6-1, 6-2, and former World No. 3 Elina Svitolina overcame Maja Chwalinska 7-6(4), 6-3. Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok won the doubles match, completing a 3-0 victory.
Group E`s outcome is still undecided, but Ukraine can guarantee their progression if they beat Switzerland on Saturday.
Group F: Great Britain Wins Against Germany 2-1
Great Britain made a successful Group F debut, winning both singles matches on Friday. Sonay Kartal defeated Jule Niemeier 6-4, 6-2, and Katie Boulter battled back to beat Tatjana Maria 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, securing the tie for Great Britain.
Laura Siegemund and Anna-Lena Friedsam won the doubles point for Germany, a two-time champion nation. However, Germany has lost both of their ties this week and is eliminated.
Group F will be decided in the final tie between Great Britain and the Netherlands, which will determine who advances to Shenzhen.
Jasper Hawthorne 
Dominic Ashworth