GB miss out on BJK Cup final after 2-0 loss to US

After losing to the United States in the semi-finals with a 2-0 lead, Great Britain continues to search for its first Billie Jean King Cup title.

After Sonay Kartal’s battling with Emma Navarro in the first singles match, Katie Boulter had to defeat world number seven Jessica Pegula to keep Britain in the lead.

However, Pegula rallied after Boulter’s first set ended up winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, thereby making her team’s 31st appearance in the final.

Both Boulter and Kartal, who were ranked more than 60 places above her in a tight match, will be left with regret for their failed chances.

In the last four years, Great Britain has reached the semi-finals three times, but their most recent appearance was in 1981.

Boulter has a stellar record representing Great Britain, and a 18th victory in her nation’s 24 matches came after taking the opening set against Pegula.

The 29-year-old broke her opponent’s serve twice, winning 13 of her 15 first-serve points, and saving the only break point she faced.

However, her standard dropped in the second set, with four double errors quickly causing her to lose back-to-back service games.

She did not earn another break point until the 10th game, which she failed to convert as Pegula forced a decision, despite responding with a break on the first occasion with a break.

For Boulter, the third set played out in frustratingly similar ways. She had her serve broken in the third game right away, but she was unable to contact Pegula again.

Pegula, the 2024 US Open champion, won the fifth game by smashing winners and passing the ball backwards before holding the lead of 15.

World number 82 Kartal had a fantastic year, most notably reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon, and she was hoping to win against a player in the top 20 for the third time this year.

She won 89 points, matching American world number 18 Navarro, despite the disparity in their rankings.

However, it was crucial for Navarro’s composure, who saved two match points against Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals, to save two break points in the third set’s opening game.

Kartal won the next four games and won the first set, quickly letting go of any nerves, pouncing on a poor start from Navarro, who struggled with her serve and forehand, to win the game.

She won all three of her break points, used her athleticism and the full width of the court to create multiple winners, and dominated their baseline exchanges. Her self-assurance was on full display when she deftly chased down a drop shot before nailing a smash winner to finish the set in style with a hold-to-love.

Kartal broke once more in the second set and once more in the fifth game, but Navarro immediately intervened. Then, a more erratic Kartal gave Navarro three set points, with the second of which she added to bring the match level.

The resilient Navarro survived an early scare before the pair exchanged breaks midway through the decider, and momentum persisted into the final set.