The Czech Republic beat Ukraine to win the Billie Jean King Cup for the 12th time.
This year’s Wimbledon finalists Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova beat their opponents to secure a 2-0 victory and deny the Ukrainians a first title in the competition.
Muchova, a Wimbledon finalist, comfortably beat Anhelina Kalinina 6-2 6-3 in the opening singles match before Noskova’s 6-3 7-6 (7-5) victory over world number seven Elina Svitolina “secured the title.”
This is the Czechs’ first victory at the event since 2018, making them the second most successful nation in its history after the United States, which has 18 titles.
It is also a first victory as captain for Barbora Strycova, who already has three triumphs to her name as a player. As a team, they only lost one set throughout the tournament.
The Czechs also knocked out Great Britain in the quarter-finals in Shenzhen, China, leading British captain Anne Keothavong to describe them as “the strongest team here”.
Gn sports
