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

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.