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Danielle Collins US Open Billie Jean King Cup 2021
Tennis News, Tennis Tournaments, WTA Tennis Players

One Billie Jean King Cup semi-final spot left as USA and Australia advance


Switzerland or the Czech Republic will claim the last semi-final slot as the group stage of the Billie Jean King Cup finals draw to a close.

After Russia booked their place in the last four of the premier international tennis event, Groups B and C have since been decided.

The final tie of Group C saw USA take on Spain as either of them or Slovakia could make it out of the group.

2017 US Open champion Sloan Stephens took on world number number 66 Nuria Parrizas Diaz first. An opening set with five breaks of serve eventually saw the American claim it 6-4.

In the second, even more breaks occurred as seven were exchanged between the two competitors. Stephens claimed it by the same scoreline as the first to put USA 1-0 up in the tie.

Danielle Collins then took on Sara Sorribes Tormo in a top 40 clash. Despite the promise of a battle, Collins dominated affairs, winning 11 straight games from 1-1 in the opener to rout the Spaniard 6-1, 6-0.

Aliona Bolsova and Rebeka Masarova salvaged a point for Spain in the final doubles rubber, but the Americans went through off the back of the tie. They face Russia in the semi-finals.

In Group B, Australia faced Belarus. Storm Sanders made short work of Yuliya Hatouka, overcoming the world number 192 6-3, 6-3 in a little over an hour.

One more win and the Australians would be into the semi-finals. Ajla Tomljanovic then faced Aliaksandra Sasnovich. The Belarusian gained the upper hand on Tomljanovic by taking the first set 6-4.

But the world number 43 was far from done. She roared back to clinch the win 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and put her nation through. A win in the doubles rubber was little consolation for Belarus as they went out.

Australia will face either Switzerland or 11-time champions the Czech Republic for a place in the final.


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