MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Slovakia rallied to beat Britain 2-1 and reach its first Billie Jean King Cup final in more than two decades on Tuesday.
Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova defeated Olivia Nicholls and Heather Watson 6-2, 6-2 in the decisive doubles match, putting Slovakia back in the final for the first time since 2002 to face last year's runner-up Italy on Wednesday.
Italy, which fell to Canada last year, returned to the Billie Jean King Cup final after beating Poland 2-1 earlier in the day.
Britain was trying to reach the final of the women's team event for the first time in more than four decades.
Slovakia forced the deciding match after Rebecca Sramkova rallied to defeat Katie Boulter 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second singles match of the tie.
Britain had taken the lead when Emma Raducanu defeated Hruncakova 6-4, 6-4 in the first singles, a result that ended Hruncakova's six-match winning streak in the competition counting both singles and doubles matches.
“Today was a really, really tough battle,” Raducanu said. “I’m really pleased with how I once again composed myself and toughed it out in both sets.”
Britain last reached the semifinals in 2022, when it lost to Australia.
Slovakia was playing in the semifinals for the first time since 2013. Before that it had made it to the last-four in 2002 when it won the title in a final against Spain.
Slovakia upset 18-time champion United States in the first round and defeated Australia in the quarterfinals. Britain picked up 2-0 wins against Germany and defending champions Canada in the last-eight.
This is the first time that the women’s team tournament is taking place at the same venue as the Davis Cup and with overlapping dates. And for the second year in a row, it offers equivalent prize money to the men’s competition.
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