SHENZHEN, China — In a thrilling showdown, Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend propelled the United States into the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals for the first time since 2021, triumphing over Kazakhstan with a score of 2-1 on Thursday.
The decisive doubles match saw Pegula and Townsend dismantle the duo of Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina with a commanding 6-2, 7-6 (1) victory.
Earlier in singles action, Emma Navarro delivered an electrifying performance, taking down Putintseva 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (6) after bravely saving two match points. Despite Putintseva holding a 6-4 advantage in the tiebreak, Navarro rallied to claim the final four points following an epic battle that lasted over 2 1/2 hours.
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina brought Kazakhstan back into contention by defeating Pegula 6-4, 6-1 in a high-stakes clash between top-10 players.
Pegula quickly bounced back from her rare loss to Rybakina, teaming up with Townsend, the reigning world No. 1 in doubles and a two-time major champion, who stirred the pot this week with her remarks about Chinese cuisine.
In the decisive doubles match, Townsend showcased her prowess by taking control of the first set, while the U.S. duo confidently navigated the tiebreak, clinching victory on a double fault from Rybakina.
“I aimed to redeem myself against Rybakina to help my team secure the win,” Pegula stated after the match.
Next up, the U.S. will face Britain in the semifinals this Saturday.
Britain advanced by sweeping Japan, winning both singles matches in straight sets during their quarterfinal.
Sonay Kartal triumphed over Ena Shibahara 6-3, 7-6 (4), overcoming a break point for 5-4 in the second set and trailing 3-1 in the tiebreak. Katie Boulter secured the tie by defeating Moyuka Uchijima 6-2, 6-1 in their inaugural encounter.
On the other side of the bracket, Ukraine is set to clash with defending champions Italy in the semifinals on Friday. Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina each triumphed over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Paula Badosa, respectively, ensuring Ukraine’s place in the final four. Italy triumphed over host nation China.
The BJK Cup, previously known as the Fed Cup, sees the United States as the most decorated team with 18 titles, though their last victory was in 2017.
