Slovakia advanced to the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2002 after defeating Australia with an unbeatable 2-0 lead on Sunday. Viktoria Hruncakova and Rebecca Sramkova secured singles victories to clinch the win.
Hruncakova outlasted Kimberly Birrell in a gruelling match, winning 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-3 after two hours and 30 minutes. Although Hruncakova ranks 126 spots below Birrell, she hit 32 winners, while Birrell struggled with 37 unforced errors. Meanwhile, world number 43 Sramkova dominated Ajla Tomljanovic, winning 6-1, 6-2. Tomljanovic, a former Wimbledon and U.S. Open quarter-finalist, was hindered by a knee injury.
Slovakia, who had previously upset the 18-time champion United States, will now face either defending champions Canada or Britain in the semi-finals.
Earlier, Poland secured a spot in the semi-finals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in a nail-biting tie that stretched into early Sunday. Czech player Marie Bouzkova claimed the first match, defeating Magdalena Frech 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
However, world number two Iga SwiÄ tek kept Poland’s hopes alive with a hard-fought win over teenager Linda Noskova. SwiÄ tek, who hasn’t lost in the Billie Jean King Cup for five years, overcame Nosková 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5 in a grueling two-hour-and-39-minute battle.
After Nosková broke back to level the score at 4-4 in the final set, SwiÄ tek held her nerve to clinch the match, tying the score at 1-1.
Swiatek then teamed up with Katarzyna Kawa for the decisive doubles match, defeating Katerina Siniakova and Bouzkova 6-1, 6-4 in just over an hour, propelling Poland into the semi-finals for the first time in tournament history.