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Austria and Netherlands secured the top spot in Pools A and B in Europe/Africa Group I on Day 2, ensuring their places in the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-offs later this year.
Nations finishing top of their pool automatically earn a place in the BJK Cup Play-offs, and with both Austria and Netherlands having already defeated either team that can draw level with them, their position is unsurpassable.
Austria clinched their victory in a decisive doubles rubber against Hungary in a match tiebreak, with Melanie Klaffner & Sinja Kraus overcoming Adrienn Nagy & Natalia Szabanin, 1-6 6-1 [10-5].
The Netherlands also needed the doubles to secure their 2-1 win against Latvia, after Suzan Lamens & Demi Schuurs proved too strong for Jelena Ostapenko & Darja Semenistaja, 7-6(3) 6-3.
Meanwhile, Serbia are just one win away from securing their place in the Play-offs after maintaining their unblemished record in this year’s event, defeating Greece 2-1 on Tuesday, having previously overcome Norway on Monday.
Click HERE for full results from Europe/Africa Group I.
Maria Paulina Perez-Garcia helped Colombia to a 3-0 win over Ecuador in Americas Group I
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Elsewhere, in Americas Group I, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela won on the opening day in Bogotá, with the hosts kicking off their campaign with a perfect start against Ecuador, winning 3-0.
Despite a couple of late personnel changes, Yuliana Lizarazo and Maria Paulina Perez-Garcia both scored emphatic 6-0 6-1 victories in their singles matches against their Ecuadorian opponents, and then scored a 6-2 6-2 win in doubles to cap an impressive day for Colombia.
There were also wins for Argentina, who defeated Peru 2-1, and Venezuela, who clinched a win in the decisive doubles match against Chile to also win, 2-1.
Click HERE for full results from Americas Group I
Team China got off to a strong start defeating Chinese Taipei 2-1 in Asia/Oceania Group I
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In Asia/Oceania Group I there were wins for China, PR, India and Korea, Rep on Day 1 in Changsha.
Hosts China, whose team includes World No 7 Zheng Qinwen, as well as 3 more players ranked inside the Top 60, are favourites on paper to be one of the two teams to book their place in November’s Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Play-offs.
Captain Feng Liu’s side got off to a strong start defeating Chinese Taipei 2-1 thanks to singles wins for Wang Xinyu and Zheng.
Chinese Taipei got a point in the doubles after Chan Hao-Ching & Liang En Shuo defeated Guo Hanyu & Zhu Lin, 6-3 6-2, in the doubles.
India and Korea scored 3-0 wins over Pacific Oceania and New Zealand respectively to put themselves in the top two spots of the one-group event.
The top 2 teams after the round-robin is complete will book a place in the Play-offs, with the bottom two teams being relegated to Asia/Oceania Group II.
Click here for full results from Asia/Oceania Group I [https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en/draws–results?stage=FC-G1&year=2024®ion=W-FC-2024-G1-AOAsiaOceaniaI]
Lithuania stunned Israel in Vilnius in Europe/Africa Group II
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In Europe/Africa Group II in Vilnius, hosts Lithuania clinched a memorable win against Israel to put them in top spot in Pool B, 2-1, in a tie that came down to the wire on Day 2.
With the score level after the singles, Justina Mikulskyte & Patricija Paukstyte battled back from a set down in the doubles to defeat Lina Glushko & Nicole Khirin, 2-6 7-6(4) [10-8].
Also in Vilnius, Croatia won their opening tie, 3-0, against Estonia to set up a top-of-the-table clash against North Macedonia on Wednesday, while Egypt maintained their perfect record with a 3-0 win against Kosovo to ensure they remain the team to beat in Pool C.
Click HERE for full results from Europe/Africa Group II
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