Czech women sweep Britain to reach first BJK Cup semifinal since 2023

Czechia is back among the final four of the Billie Jean King Cup after defeating Great Britain 2-0 in Tuesday’s quarterfinal in Shenzhen, China.

Marie Bouzková earned the opening point with a hard-fought 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Sonay Kartal. Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková then completed the sweep, beating Katie Boulter 6-2, 7-6 (3).

The Czech team, led by captain Barbora Strýcová, will face either Spain or Kazakhstan in Friday’s semifinal. It is Czechia’s first appearance in the competition’s final four since 2023.

Bouzková was selected for the opening singles match ahead of Karolína Muchová and endured a tense contest lasting three hours.

The 28-year-old dropped serve at the start but immediately recovered from a 0-2, 0-40 deficit. She eventually took the opening set in a tiebreak, racing to a 4-1 lead before closing it out 7-2.

Kartal, returning after a six-month absence with a back injury, responded by taking the second set. She also moved ahead by a break in the decider, but Bouzková won four consecutive games from 1-2 to regain control.

Bouzková missed three match points at 5-2 and was broken as Kartal narrowed the score to 5-4. The Czech player finally finished the contest on her fourth match point, breaking serve in the following game.

“It was an incredibly valuable victory,” Bouzková told Czech Television. “It was such a tense match from beginning to end. The energy in the team was unbelievable.”

She saved six of the 10 break points she faced.

Nosková needed just one hour and 41 minutes to secure the decisive second point. The world No. 6 struck 15 aces against Boulter and did not face a single break point.

The 21-year-old dominated the opening stages, breaking twice to establish a 4-0 lead before taking the first set 6-2. Opportunities were scarcer in the second, with Nosková unable to convert her only two break points.

She remained untouchable on serve, however, and took control early in the tiebreak before sealing the match with an ace.

The result made the planned doubles match unnecessary. Kateřina Siniaková and Muchová had been due to face Harriet Dart and Jodie Burrage.

Czechia can now continue its pursuit of a record-extending 12th title in the competition formerly known as the Fed Cup. Its most recent triumph came in 2018.

“The road is still long, but we have taken the first step,” Strýcová said.