04/11/26 03:51:00
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04/11 15:49 CDT Titleholder Italy reaches Billie Jean King Cup finals but US
ousted by Belgium
Titleholder Italy reaches Billie Jean King Cup finals but US ousted by Belgium
VELLETRI, Italy (AP) --- Defending champion Italy advanced to the Billie Jean
King Cup finals while 2025 runner-up the United States was eliminated by
Belgium in the qualifiers on Saturday.
Italy beat Japan 3-1, clinching when Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani outclassed
Eri Hozumi and Shuko Aoyama 6-2, 7-5 on clay in Velletri, outside Rome.
The Italians are seeking a third consecutive title in the women's team
tournament.
The Americans reached the final last year for the first time since 2018 but the
18-time champion will be watching the finals in Shenzhen in September from afar
again after losing to Belgium 3-1 in Ostend.
The Americans started Saturday already 2-0 down after Hanne Vandewinkel and
Elise Mertens won the Friday singles. Caty McNally and Nicole Melichar kept the
U.S. alive by winning the doubles in straight sets but Belgium took the tie
when 149th-ranked Greet Minnen upset 16th-ranked Iva Jovic 7-5, 6-3.
"We are such a small country and it means a lot," Mertens said. "First of all,
however, we are going to celebrate tonight."
Britain knocked off Australia 3-1 in Melbourne, Kazakhstan defeated 2023
champion Canada 3-1 in Astana, and Ukraine reached the finals for the second
time and second straight year after beating Poland 4-0 in Gliwice.
Also advancing were Spain and the Czech Republic. Host nation China qualified
automatically.
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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