LONDON (AP) — No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek clinched a berth for Poland in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals by defeating Switzerland’s Celine Naef 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five-match qualifying round.
Swiatek — who has claimed Grand Slam titles at the French Open and one at the U.S. Open — also won her opening singles match on an indoor hard court at Biel, Switzerland, on Friday.
Japan, Australia and Slovakia were among the countries that advanced Saturday to the Finals, which will be held in Seville, Spain, in November.
Japan went ahead 3-0 over Kazakhstan without needing four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to play a second match on an indoor hard court in Tokyo. That’s because Nao Hibino beat Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) on Saturday, after Osaka’s win against Putintseva on Friday helped the hosts go up 2-0.
Encino out of Kentucky Derby, Epic Ride joins the 20
Top legislator addresses closing meeting of China's annual legislative session
Palestinians seek unity with appointment of new PM
Meet trying to divide world, observers say
Brazil soccer player Gabriel Barbosa cleared by CAS to play during appeal in doping rules case
Weaponization of human rights slammed
Weaponization of human rights slammed
Proof you CAN outrun bad genes with just four lifestyle tweaks
World reporters gain insights at two sessions
Cupid's stunt snares fugitive, 27, and his mother, 51, in Cape Town following six
Top legislator addresses closing meeting of China's annual legislative session