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Ukraine and Spain Qualify for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers - Group E - Switzerland v Ukraine - Radomskie Centrum Sportu, Radom, Poland - April 12, 2025 Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska, Elina Svitolina, captain Mikhail Filima, Marta Kostyuk, Lyudmyla Kichenok, Nadiia Kichenok and their team celebrate after qualifying for the finals REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers - Group E - Switzerland v Ukraine - Radomskie Centrum Sportu, Radom, Poland - April 12, 2025 Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska, Elina Svitolina, captain Mikhail Filima, Marta Kostyuk, Lyudmyla Kichenok, Nadiia Kichenok and their team celebrate after qualifying for the finals REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
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Ukraine and Spain Qualify for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers - Group E - Switzerland v Ukraine - Radomskie Centrum Sportu, Radom, Poland - April 12, 2025 Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska, Elina Svitolina, captain Mikhail Filima, Marta Kostyuk, Lyudmyla Kichenok, Nadiia Kichenok and their team celebrate after qualifying for the finals REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers - Group E - Switzerland v Ukraine - Radomskie Centrum Sportu, Radom, Poland - April 12, 2025 Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska, Elina Svitolina, captain Mikhail Filima, Marta Kostyuk, Lyudmyla Kichenok, Nadiia Kichenok and their team celebrate after qualifying for the finals REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

Elina Svitolina sent Ukraine to the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann to level the countries’ qualifier 1-1 on Saturday.
It ensured Ukraine tops Group E to qualify for the tournament in Shenzhen in September, The Associated Press reported. Switzerland needed a flawless record against Ukraine to progress. Ukraine went on to win 2-1.
Spain also secured its place in the finals after Jessica Bouzas Maneiro defeated Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2 for an unassailable 2-0 lead in their meeting.
Bernarda Pera defeated Denmark’s Johanne Svendsen to give the United States a 2-0 lead in Group C. The US next faces host nation Slovakia on Sunday with the winner going through to the finals.
Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima saved two match points before beating Romania’s Anca Todoni 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 to win their meeting in Group A. It set up a decider against Canada on Sunday to determine which team qualifies for the finals.

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Cancelo Ruled Out of Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League Semi with Al-Ahli 

Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
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Cancelo Ruled Out of Al-Hilal’s Asian Champions League Semi with Al-Ahli 

Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 
Football - Saudi Pro League – Al-Hilal v Al-Shabab - Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - April 21, 2025 Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus is seen during the match. (Reuters) 

Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus has ruled Joao Cancelo out of the remainder of his side's Asian Champions League Elite campaign with a hamstring injury ahead of their all-Saudi Pro League semi-final against Al-Ahli in Jeddah on Tuesday.

The former Manchester City and Barcelona defender limped off 42 minutes into Al-Hilal's 7-0 thrashing of South Korea's Gwangju on Friday and Jesus confirmed the 30-year-old would play no further part in the continental championship.

"The only negative part of an excellent night was the injury to Joao Cancelo," said Jesus. "He's one of the players who is very important for the team for his attacking ability.

"We will not have him. He will be out for four to six weeks, that means his season is practically over, but he will be well prepared for our participation in the Club World Cup."

Al-Hilal remain on track for a record-extending fifth Asian title but face a difficult challenge against an Al-Ahli side that is the only undefeated team left in the competition.

The clubs have already met three times this season in domestic competition, with Al-Ahli winning the most recent encounter in the Saudi Pro League thanks to a hat-trick by England striker Ivan Toney.

That win was coach Matthias Jaissle's first against Al-Hilal in five attempts and the German is confident his side can repeat the feat.

"It helps definitely to know, to feel that we are capable to win against Al-Hilal," said Jaissle.

"We've played against Al-Hilal so often and they have huge quality in their squad, but we're well prepared. We know exactly what will come tomorrow, there will be no surprises on the pitch. Details will be decisive."

The semi-final will be played at Al-Ahli's home at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Jaissle is hoping the support of the local fans will be a factor in deciding the outcome.

"The results in the matches since the competition started show clearly that this competition fits us," he said. "But we didn't achieve anything so far.

"Everything has to fit together, all the details in all phases of the game. Then you need sometimes a bit of luck and the extra energy of the fans."