Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup run ended in the quarter-finals in Shenzhen on Tuesday 22 September, with Czechia winning both singles matches to take the tie 2-0.
Not live reporting: this is a dated results briefing based on LTA and BBC Sport reports.
How the tie went
- Match one: Marie Bouzkova beat Sonay Kartal 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4 after exactly three hours. It was Kartal’s first match since retiring injured at Indian Wells in March with a lower back problem. She saved three match points in the final set before Bouzkova closed it out.
- Match two: Wimbledon champion and world No.6 Linda Noskova beat British No.1 Katie Boulter 6-2, 7-6(3). Boulter improved in the second set but could not create a break point.
With Czechia 2-0 up, the doubles was not needed. GB’s squad was Boulter, Kartal, Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage and Mika Stojsavljevic, captained by Anne Keothavong.
“I can’t fault their efforts,” Keothavong told BBC Sport, adding that she thought the Czechs were the strongest team at the Finals.
What it means
This is the first time since 2023 that Britain have not reached the semi-finals, although the LTA notes GB have now made the Finals four times in five years. Czechia, 11-time champions, play in the semi-finals on Friday 25 September. Kartal, now ranked 127th after her injury, said the performance gives her confidence for the rest of the Asian swing.
Sources
- LTA: Great Britain exit to Czechia in quarter-finals ↗
- LTA: Great Britain vs Czechia results and updates ↗
- BBC Sport: GB out of BJK Cup as Kartal and Boulter beaten by Czechs ↗
Compiled from the linked LTA and BBC Sport reports — not original reporting or on-site coverage.